Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty on Monday opened the district-level week-long Onam celebrations at Freedom Square on Kozhikode beach.

The Minister said Onam was an occasion when people rose above differences of caste and religion in a spirit of unity. M.K. Raghavan, Kozhikode MP, and MLAs K. Praveenkumar, M.A. Razak, V.K. Fyzal Babu, and Parakkal Abdulla, among others, were present. The event was organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council, Tourism Department, and the district administration. Thaikoodam Bridge band performed on the opening day.

A dance performance by Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and a comedy show by Hareesh Kanaran and Nirmal Palazhi will be staged on August 25. Naresh Iyer and party and Dhwanitharang Kochi will perform on August 26.

​Additional events will take place across the district, including theatre productions at the Town Hall (August 25–29), Sufi dance and concerts at Bhatt Road Beach (August 25–29), folk arts at Mananchira (August 25–27), classical dance and music at Tali (August 25–27), and ghazals, Kolkali, and women’s musical concerts at Kuttichira (August 25–27).

Water sports and outdoor events include a Water Fest at Korapuzha on August 25, events at Akalappuzha on August 26 and Kappad on August 27, and a kayaking fest at Ulloor Kadavu on August 29. ​The entire celebration is funded through a ₹40-lakh grant from the Tourism department alongside local business and organisational sponsorships.