Kannur plans 500-drone display for Dussehra finale

Kannur Corporation will organise a drone show involving more than 500 aircraft as the main attraction on the concluding day of this year’s Kannur Dussehra festival. The festival is scheduled to take place at the Kannur Collectorate ground from October 12 to 21. The approximately 15-minute display will be held on the final day, according to the Corporation.

Organisers said the illuminated formations will represent major art and cultural traditions from Kerala, including Theyyam and Kathakali. The show will also depict landmarks associated with Kannur, such as Kannur Lighthouse and St. Angelo Fort.

The Corporation said this would be the first time a civic body in Kerala has organised a drone show of this scale as part of a festival. A specialised team from abroad will assist with executing the performance. The estimated cost of the event is around ₹20 lakh.

The available information does not specify the name of the specialist team, the company supplying the drones or the safety arrangements for the display. The event forms part of the Corporation’s programme for the concluding day of Kannur Dussehra. The planned use of coordinated illuminated drones is intended to combine a large-scale public spectacle with images drawn from the region’s cultural traditions and landmarks.

The Corporation has not provided further details about the sequence of the display, the exact timing or arrangements for spectators. The festival dates and venue, however, have been announced, with the drone show planned for the Kannur Collectorate ground. The event’s budget estimate and the involvement of an overseas specialist team indicate that the Corporation is treating the show as a major element of this year’s festival programme.