Palakkad: Reigning champions Kozhikode finally managed to race ahead and gain a slender lead over hosts Palakkad as the event completed five days on Thursday.
As per the results available by 9.30 pm, Kozhikode scored 743 points and stood eight points ahead of Palakkad, which is positioned at the second place. Thrissur followed the top two districts with 731 points. With more group events coming up in the final two days, Kozhikode is expected to retain its title with its superiority in group events.
Meanwhile, the positions of Pathanamthitta and Idukki as the lowest ranked teams remained unchanged at 585 and 571 points respectively.
In the Sanskrit festival, Kottayam and Malappuram shared the top spot between them with 80 points each, followed by Thrissur with 78 points. Northern districts of Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur, led the Arabic festival at 85 points, followed by Kasargod at 83 points.
The biggest crowd of day five was at the Indira Gandhi ground, the main venue, which hosted the group dance events in the evening while the venue at the Lions School, which hosted the mimicry competition of High School Girls and Chavittunatakam event, was the second most favored.
However, events like Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi competitions for High School boys were witnessed by crowds much lesser than expected.
Next: Gothuruth shows way
Gothuruth shows way
Hiran Unnikrishnana| DC
Palakkad: When it comes to the maritime theatre tradition of Chavittunatakam, the first thing that comes to mind is the island of Gothuruth. The 54th State School Youth Festival here in Palakkad has showed why it is so.
Students from the St.Sebastian's Higher Secondary School in Gothuruth ruled the roost when the art form was introduced as a competition item in the state school festival last year. And this year, the school has come first in the Higher Second-ary category while also setting their eyes on winning the top honour in the High School section as well.
Further, most of the school teams taking part in Chavittunatakam are trained by artists settled in this island. “Like any classical art form, Chavittunatakam was on the decline till 2010. But thanks to its introduction in school festivals, more youngsters are now coming in to learn the art'', said Thampi Payyapilly, a veteran practitioner of Chavittunatakam for 39 years.
Roy Georgekutty, another artist from the island who trained four schools, said the art form itself is going through a period of transformation, as plays have now started to narrate stories of Christian legends as well.
