Onam Rush Grips Attingal

Onam has well and truly announced itself in Attingal. Maddening rush is everywhere, in streets, in shops, in bus stands, and in every available space of the township. This unprecedented crowd has brought the fragile and one-dimensional traffic system of the township into a standstill. The traffic in the National Highway, from Alamcode to Mamam, is paralyzed most of the day. It lies these days like the unmovable dead body of a monstrous Anaconda. Add occasional heavy rain to this mix. What you find is a celebration of chaos.



But still there is no stopping of people who brave all these to gear themselves up for Onam. Textile shops are doing roaring business despite the stiff competition being offered by street-side vendors. A new textile shop, Rajakumari Wedding Centre, was inaugurated yesterday. It is near private bus stand and is very close to another leading textile shop in the town, Swayamvara Silks. Street vendors are occupying the open land opposite the private bus stand and the lane adjacent to the Municipal Office. There is also a Kudumbasree Mela going on at the Municipal Office compound.



Attingal Municipality is conducting several events as part of official Onam celebrations. The most attractive item is an electrically controlled mock-up of a gigantic guerilla and three life-size human models – one of them has an uncanny resemblance to Kalabhavan Mani – performing Chendamelam. It is placed in front of Thrissur Jewelers, opposite to the newly inaugurated Rajakumari Silks.

It is rumored that the rent of the item is Rs. one lakh for a week. Anyway, the town looks like a chaotic sea of floating crowd and senseless traffic.