Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 (IANS): The Kerala government will honour actor Kamal Haasan who completes 50 years on the silver screen of Malayalam cinema.

"He will be honoured during the opening celebrations of Onam to be held here in the presence of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and other dignitaries on 22nd of this month," Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters here.

Onam is the traditional harvest festival of the state.

It is celebrated across religious communities and Thiru Onam (second day) which falls Aug 23 is the most important day in the Onam week when Keralites have the traditional Onam Sadhya (vegetarian lunch) on a plantain leaf.

The Kerala government has earmarked Rs.1.67 crore for the celebrations.

"Thiruvananthapuram will host the main functions. Also, celebrations would be held in all the other 13 district headquarters. There would be cultural events in 18 venues from 22nd to 28th of this month. All the traditional Kerala art forms would be staged and a record 4,000 artistes would take part," said Balakrishnan.