Next budget to sanction upgradation and allocation of water festivals in state
September 24
Kollam
Water festivals in the State will be graded and an allocation made for each festival in next budget, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said. He made the announcement will distributing prizes to the winners of the Kallada water festival held on
Kallada
River
at Munroethuruthu near here on Sunday. In the chundan category, ‘Kaarichaal’ with T. Gopalakrishna Pillai as the captain emerged winner. It claimed the Kallada Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.50,000.
Payipadan chundan with
N. Suresh
at the helm came second. It got a cash prize of Rs.45,000 and Cheruthana chundan came third to claim a cash prize of Rs.40,000.In the Veppu category, the boat Jai Shot with Nalinan P. as the captain came first. ‘Ambalakadavan’ with K. Suresh Kumar as the captain came second. In the Iruttukuthi ‘A’ grade category, ‘Padakuthira’ emerged first. Thuruthithara came second.
Cultural attraction
The festival was keenly watched by thousands who gathered on the banks of the river. It began with a sail past by the boats. Inaugurating the festival, Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan said the Government would provide all possible help for water festivals in the State.
Minister for Cultural Affairs M.A. Baby said all steps would be taken to convert the Kallada water festival into a national-level cultural attraction.
