Maitree Mahotsavam begins today

Kozhikode: A 10-day cultural festival Kerala Peruma-Maitree Mahotsavam will be held at Thirunavaya from May 15 to 24. Noted poet K Satchidanandan will inaugurate the event.The event is projected as an alternative to the ‘Mahamagha Mahotsavam' held in Jan. The organizors say it is a bid to counter the attempts to fracture the unity and mutual goodwill. They also claim that the Mahamagha Mahotsavam organizers tried to use that event for political gain and communal division. "In response, various democratically minded and secular organizations in Kerala have come together to uphold and defend the state's cultural diversity, renaissance values and secular traditions," they said. The programme will feature a rich array of events including art exhibitions, painting workshops, cultural performances, visual displays, seminars, history classes, public meetings, etc. Prominent cultural leaders, poets and artists will participate. The event is jointly organized by Malappuram Samskarika Koottayma, Wake Up Keralam, M N Vijayan Samskarika Kendram, Banner Samskarika Samiti and other progressive public forums. TNN