Kochi wakes to Thiruvonam festivities

Kochi will wake up to Onam celebrations on Wednesday.

The weather improved on Tuesday, Uthradam, as the heavy rain that had lashed the city the previous day largely stayed away, restoring the festive buzz and adding colour to the celebrations.

Uthrada Pachil — the last-minute shopping rush on Uthradam — turned out to be a subdued affair following heavy rain since the previous evening. In Ernakulam market, business slowed so much that traders cut back on orders for vegetables from suppliers in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, who largely meet the Onam demand here.

“Rain played havoc with last-minute sales, while most customers seem to have completed their purchases in advance, fearing a price rise,” said K.K. Ashraf, secretary of the Ernakulam Market Stall Owners Association. Inclement weather also dampened sales in Broadway, the city’s commercial hub. P.A. Sageer, president of the Broadway Shop Owners Association, said business was brisk until the downpour lashed the city on Monday evening, adding to Broadway’s traffic and parking woes. “The biggest sales are supposed to happen in the last two days before Thiruvonam, but rain badly disrupted that momentum,” he noted.

Women take part in a tug-of-war competition organised as part of the Onam celebrations in Kochi on Tuesday.
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Street vendors too bore the brunt, having stocked up in anticipation of brisk sales only to see the rain wipe out their prospects.

Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor visited the Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, which has been decorated for Onam. The festival flag was handed over by Thrikkakara municipal chairperson Rashid Ullampilly to Kalamassery municipal chairperson Jamal Manakkadan.

The temple grounds saw a steady stream of visitors from the early hours of Tuesday, and ceremonies continued uninterrupted for most of the day. Preparations have already begun for the traditional votive lunch on Thiruvonam day, said V. Vineeth, temple advisory committee president.

The city traffic police faced a tough task as large numbers of vehicles took to the roads. “Traffic moved painfully slowly, with rain and water-filled potholes worsening the situation. We prevented unauthorised parking along roadsides and footpaths, and deployed additional personnel to manage traffic,” said P.M. Suneer, a police official.