Cochin Carnival Kicks Off (image:cochincarnival.org)

Kochi: The much-anticipated Cochin Carnival celebrations began on Sunday, December 9. The 41st edition of the yearly event commenced with offering tribute to war heroes at the historic St. Francis Church courtyard in Fort Kochi. Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar, Commanding Officer of INS Dronacharya Commodore Manav Sehgal, Commander of the Indian Coast Guard (Kerala and Mahe) N. Ravi, Fort Kochi Sub-Collector K. Meera, ex-servicemen, and M. Soman Menon of the Cochin Carnival Committee placed wreaths at the war memorial.

Also Read |  Kochi Airport Welcomes Eva, First Pet Passenger To Fly From Abroad

The next event, the carnival flag-hoisting ceremony, will be held on December 15 at Vasco da Gama Square, with Kochi MLA K J Maxi unfurling the carnival flag. The carnival, bringing people from across Kerala to Fort Kochi, is a unique testament to the mingling of traditional and modern culture.

The two-week-long festivities will reach their zenith with the traditional burning of the “Papanji” on the night of December 31 at the Fort Kochi Parade ground. This year, the height of Papanji will be reduced from the usual 80 feet to 50 feet due to safety concerns, the official sources report. Since elephants would not be paraded at the carnival following orders issued by the Kerala High Court, robo-electric elephants will be used instead.

Aside from various cultural programmes including DJ parties and music festivals, sports events like motorbike races, Chetak scooter rallies, wrestling, veterans’ football matches, boxing, kayaking, and fishing were also included. Competitions like masquerades and floats are also part of the carnival. The celebration will officially conclude on January 1 with a carnival rally from Veli Ground to Parade Ground in Fort Kochi.

Also Read | Thrikkakara Temple: Centre Of Contention Between Thrikkakara And Kalamassery Municipality

Cochin Carnival is organised by the Cochin Corporation. More than 90 local clubs and organizations are associating with the event, reflecting how this event is entwined with the spirit of Kochi and its people. Some of the prominent venues for the carnival are Parade Ground, Pallathuraman Ground, Nehru Park and Vasco da Gama Square.