Kottayam, Monday 17 January 2011: The rescheduled 51st State School Kalolsavam will commence here on Tuesday. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the fest at 10.a.m.

The event was rescheduled, originally scheduled for January 17 to 23, after an emergency meet on Saturday, in the light of the Pulmedu tragedy. The cultural procession and pageant, planned on the opening day, has been called off.

Earlier report

The coveted Golden Cup, instituted by the Kerala government, for the overall champions of the Kerala State School Arts Festival, arrived here on January 12. The vehicle carrying the cup, which arrived from Kozhikode, last year’s overall champions, was received at Ettumanur by Thomas Chazhikkadan and Mons Joseph, MLAs. Deputy Director of Education M.I. Sukumaran received the cup. Following a ceremonial welcome at Government High School, Ettumanur, the cup was taken in a procession to Kottayam for public display.

The 940-gram (117.5 sovereigns) cup, the idea for which came from the late Malayalam poet Vailoppilly Sreedharana Menon, was designed by artist Chirayinkeezh Sreekantan Nair and has been the centre of attention at the school festivals ever since it (the cup) was instituted in 1987. Thiruvananthapuram district was the first winner of the cup.

Kozhikode district has the distinction of holding the cup the most, nine times. The winners will hold the cup for one day under heavy police security, after which it would be secured by the respective district treasury. The cup would be brought to the venue one hour before the presentation ceremony.

The valedictory function on January 24 will be inaugurated by Minister for Cooperation G. Sudhakaran. The function will be chaired by Baby. Singer K.J. Yesudas will give away the awards. Mullakkara Ratnakaran, Minister for Agriculture, will release the festival souvenir.

A total of 216 events including group and individual would be held in 16 venues. Vanchipattu (boat songs), chavittu natakom and hindustani music would be introduced in the exhibition event category during the festival.

Two food courts would be reserved for providing food and other refreshments to students and spectators. A venue to conduct non-competition events like seminars, discussions and other shows was also arranged. An appeal committee would be constituted with reputed artists from the sate. A total of 18 sub-committees were formed to ensure smooth function of the festival.

(Agency inputs)