Kochi: According to a response to the Right to Information query, the Kerala government spent Rs 19.15 lakh for the Onam feast organised by the Chief minister in August. It was for the first time that the Chief Minister organised an Onam feast. There is no record of how many people attended the feast but Rs 15,400 was spent on printing the invitations.

It was M.K Haridas, the president of Proper Channel who enquired about the cost of the Onam feast by filing an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Though initially resistant to release the details, the public administration department offered information about the contract once the appeal was filed.

The feast held on August 26 at the Legislative Assembly courtyard was catered by a Thiruvananthapuram-based service called White Dammer Events. They were given Rs 19,00,130 as payment.

Apart from ministers, MLAs, and high-ranking officials, prominent figures in the fields of art, politics, culture, business, religious leaders, spiritual leaders, and others participated in the feast.