THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Keraleeyam Mahotsavam’ kicks off today adding seven days and nights of festivities to the capital. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will open the event at Central Stadium at 10 am. Minister K Rajan will preside over the event with the participation of renowned film stars such as Mammootty, Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan, Shobhana and Manju Warrier.

Minister K N Balagopal will provide the introductory speech and Speaker A N Shamseer will unveil the event brochure. Chief Secretary Dr V Venu will present the report. Dignitaries including UAE Ambassador Abdul Nasser Jamal Al Shali, South Korea Ambassador Chang J Bock, Cuban Embassy's Malena Rojas Medina, Norwegian Ambassador May Ellen Stener and industry leaders MA Yousaf Ali, Ravi Pillai and Dr M V Pillai will also be in attendance.

The ‘Keraleeyam’ festival will span 42 venues from Kowdiar to East Fort. Over the course of the event, 25 seminars will take place at five different locations focusing on shaping the future of Kerala with discussions on progress and future goals in agro-industrial sectors. Over 200 national and international speakers will participate.

Each evening starting at 6 pm performances will captivate the audience. More than 300 programs are scheduled across 30 venues featuring the likes of exhibitions, trade fairs, food exhibitions and flower displays from 10 am to 10 pm. A total of 425 entrepreneurs will take part in trade fairs at eight locations. A food festival showcasing Kerala's unique flavours will run across eleven venues from Manaveeyam road to East Fort. Additionally, there will be a film festival and a business-to-business (B2B) meeting.