No athapookkalam competition for Onam; CPM announces pork challenge on Karkidaka Vavu Day

KANNUR: An organisation owing allegiance to the CPM is organising a pork challenge on the day of Karkidaka Vavu. The programme is organised at Padiyoor in Kannur. The event is held at Karavoor AKG Reading Room in Padiyoor. One kilo of pork will be sold at Rs 370 on that day.

The pork challenge is being held as an alternative to the athapookkalam competition organised in previous years. Although the challenge has been announced as part of the Onam celebrations, the organisers have specifically mentioned that it will be held on vavu day. The DYFI's earlier pork challenge to raise funds for the Wayanad rehabilitation project had stoked a controversy.

Another event is also being organised by the CPM affiliated organisation at Payyambalam in Kannur on Vavu Day. For devotees arriving at Payyambalam to perform Vavu Bali, the party is arranging refreshments, ambulance services and medical assistance. The programme is being organised by IRPC, the party's palliative care wing.