Kerala is celebrating its 54th Formation Day on Monday. It was on this day in 1956 that the state was formed merging the Travancore , Cochin and Malabar regions, where Malayalam was the dominant language. The state level celebration was inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at Durbar Hall in Thiruvananthapuram. A large number of men and women wore traditional dress to mark the occasion. Several cultural programmes and seminars are being held at various places in the state to celebrate Kerala Formation Day.