Fiscal strain costs Onam pageantry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided to do away with perhaps the most popular annual Onam ritual in the capital this year. Onam pageantry, a cultural jamboree that marks the conclusion of the Onam week celebrations, has been cancelled. “It is only a temporary measure, perhaps it might be re-introduced from next year,” a top tourism department official said.

Every year, for nearly two decades, 3000-odd employees of government and quasi-government institutions take part in the procession, which involves the slow passage of nearly 70 giant floats through the heart of the city. Fiscal strain is said to be one reason why the pageantry will be avoided this year. “The state is too starved for cash to splurge on a procession,” the tourism official said.

Last year, the Tourism Department, which organizes the Onam Week celebrations, had provided '50 lakh for the pageantry. In addition, some 50-60 public institutions are given '3 lakh each for creating floats. Together, there will be an outflow of over '3 crore. A top finance department official said that the department had not raised any objection against the pageantry as the money involved was not huge.