Thrissur: The cultural heartbeat of Kerala is set to quicken as the 64th State School Arts Festival begins tomorrow, turning Thrissur into a grand arena of creativity, colour and competition. Nearly 10,000 gifted students will vie for top honours across 25 venues, with the festival running until the 18th.
The iconic 117.5-pawn gold trophy has already begun its ceremonial journey, symbolising the dreams and aspirations of thousands of young artistes. The glittering trophy received a festive welcome on Monday at eight locations across the district, complete with drumbeats, cultural performances and colourful balloon displays. The reception began in Chalakudy at 9 am and concluded in Chelakkara by afternoon. On Tuesday, the trophy will be welcomed at six more locations, starting from Wadakkanchery at 9 am.
Teams from across the state will begin arriving in Thrissur from Tuesday morning. The first contingent will be received at the railway station at 10.30 am, while participant registration will commence at 10 am at the Model Boys School. The traditional Palukachal ceremony will be held at 3 pm at the Indoor Stadium, which will function as the festival’s community dining centre.
A grand proclamation procession carrying the gold trophy will roll out at 3 pm on Tuesday, moving from CMS School to the main venue at Thekkinkadu Exhibition Ground. The festival will be officially inaugurated on Wednesday at 10 am by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who will light the ceremonial lamp.
Following the inauguration, competitions in 249 items will unfold across 25 venues. With only hours remaining, preparations are in their final stages, and the city—known as Kerala’s cultural capital—is poised to welcome the arts festival in all its splendour and spirit.
