Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's new Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, will arrive in the state on New Year's Day and take office on January 2.

Though outgoing Governor Arif Mohammed Khan was scheduled to be honoured at a farewell event at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, the programme has been postponed due to the declaration of a seven-day national mourning period following the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Organised by the staff of the Governor's official residence, the event was to take place in the Raj Bhavan auditorium. Arif Mohammed Khan, who has been appointed Governor of Bihar, will assume his new role on January 2.