ATHAM CELEBRATION-2012

ATHAM CELEBRATION-2012

 ‘Athaghosham’ festivities, celebrations marking the 10 days leading up to Onam, will begin at Tripunithura on Tuesday, 20th August, 2012. The week-long festivities in the town will include various cultural activities such as folk songs, Kakkarshi theatre, Kathakali, musical evening, mimics show and dances.A trade fair will be on at the Boys School ground from Tuesday onwards. Traders from different parts of the State have set up stalls with their specialised handicrafts at the fair. The special Onam market will be on for a month this time.

The public function will be inaugurated by Speaker G. Karthikeyan. K. Babu, Minister for Excise and Ports, will preside. Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar will give the Onam message and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob will hoist the Atham flag.The flag post and the flag were symbolically handed over to the Athaghosha committee chairman and municipal chairman R. Venugopal by R.V.K. Thampuran, the representative of the royal family of the erstwhile Kochi from the Hill Palace. While the royal family reigned, the festivities were led by the Kochi king with Athachamayam marking the royal procession around the town.A public function held on the eve of the Atham celebrations was inaugurated by M.G.S. Narayanan, director, Centre for Heritage Studies.Thripunithura Athachamayam is the colourful beginning for the Onam festival of Kerala. Athachamayam is held on Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam (August/September), which is the first day of Onam. Thripunithura is the small town near to Ernakulam in Kerala.Athachamayam celebrations is closely linked with Cochin royal family. In the olden days, Maharaja of Cochin, used the custom of travelling to the Thripunithura fort with all his entourage. His people can greet him and see him closely at this occassion. People from all walks of life will come to see this royal Parade.

Prof. John Kurakar