Cochin Carnival rally held

Ernakulam district's Cochin Carnival rally, postponed to January 2, featured floats, fancy dress, dancers, and a robotic elephant.

The New Year revelry in Ernakulam district concluded late on Thursday evening with the much-awaited Cochin Carnival rally being taken out from the Veli Ground to the Parade Ground that is located right in the heart of the Fort Kochi heritage zone.

Although slated to be held on December 31 each year, the crowd-pulling event was postponed to January 2 due to the week-long mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As is the norm each year, floats depicting an array of themes, people wearing fancy dress, dancers and others participated in the rally held on the day. A robotic elephant was among the attractions. 

Foreign tourists, other visitors and people from the city and West Kochi turned up in large numbers to witness the rally which was followed by live music performance at Parade Ground.

People converged at Fort Kochi by road and in passenger/ro-ro ferries. This is the first time that the Cochin Carnival is being held after the extension of Water Metro ferries to Fort Kochi.