Wayanad gears up for week-long Onam celebrations

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Onam is a celebration of Wayanad’s resilience, and the district is organising festivities that bring together people and activities from all sections of society, Agriculture Minister T. Siddique has said.

He was inaugurating the Wayanad district-level Onam week celebrations in Kalpetta on Monday (August 24).

"The State government has taken extensive measures through the Civil Supplies department to control price rises in the open market during the festival seasons, including Onam," Mr. Siddique said, adding that the Civil Supplies Corporation had recorded a turnover of ₹300 crore in the State.

Around 2,000 markets launched under the Agriculture department were making essential commodities available at a 30% discount, the Minister said.

"The government has cleared the entire amount due to farmers for vegetables procured from them. The full amount due to paddy farmers in the State will be disbursed by August 31. The government is taking strong measures to ensure that everyone can celebrate Onam without financial hardship," he said.

Mr. Siddique announced that administrative and technical sanctions had been received for the construction of a critical care block at Elston Estate, adjacent to the Kalpetta General Hospital, at a cost of ₹45 crore. Construction would begin soon, he said.

The Minister distributed Onam kits provided by the Akshaya Patra Foundation to bedridden patients in the Kalpetta block panchayat, Chooralmala, and township areas. He also distributed laptops provided by EYGDS company under its CSR initiative to 50 eligible students pursuing various courses in the district, along with Onam clothes.

As part of Onam week celebrations, a series of programmes will be held at various tourist destinations across the district until August 30. The celebrations are being organised with the support of Destination Management Councils, tourism clubs, tourism organisations and voluntary organisations. Special programmes will also be held at major tourist destinations with the participation of residents.

A hill-climbing event, ‘Climb with Maveli’, will be held at Cheengeri Mala in Ambalavayal at 8 a.m on Tuesday (August 25). Later in the day, a mega Onam floral carpet covering 25,000 sq. metres will be created at the Government High School, Irulam.

A district-level tug-of-war competition will be held at Meenangadi at 2 p.m. on August 28.

On August 29, a State-level kayaking competition will be held at Karlad Lake at 9 a.m. A district-level Kaikottikali competition and a mega Thiruvathira will be held at the Gandhi Memorial Arts and Sports Club Indoor Stadium at Chulliyode from 4 p.m.

A district-level mud football competition will be held near Kuruva Island at 10 a.m. on August 29, followed by an Onam feast at 12.30 p.m. and various local competitions at 2 p.m.

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