THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism's annual cultural fiesta ‘Utsavam’, conceived as an attempt to rejuvenate the traditional folk art forms of the state, will be organized across the state by the Tourism Department from January 6 to 12. The state-level inauguration, which will be held in Kannur on January 6, will honour 10 traditional folk arts exponents. The festival, organised in all districts by the respective District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs), will get underway in 28 venues this time, up from 14 last year.
“An amount of Rs 2.32 crore has been earmarked for the festival this year,” tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said. “Around 150 art forms, 350-plus folk arts shows and more than 5000 artists will come together for Utsavam 2018,” the minister said.
Utsavam will be staged at three venues in Thiruvananthapuram, while Thrissur will have one, and the remaining 12 districts will have two venues each. In Thiruvananthapuram, Utsvam will be staged at Shanghumukhom, Kazhak- oottam and Varkala Helipad; in Kollam at the Childrens Park and Kollam Beach. The other venues are: Pathanamthitta (Adoor Chennambally temple ground, and Kadamanitta Padayani Gramam); Kottayam (Kumarakom Kavanattin- kala and Chaganassery Perunna Bus stand); Alappuzha (Marari Beach and Alappuzha Beach); Ernakulam (Fort Kochi Vasco da Gama Square and Durbar Hall Ground); Idukki (Vagamon Town and Munnar Town DTPC Park); Thrissur (Guruvayoor, Municipality Ground); Palakkad (Rappadi Open Auditorium and Sreekrishnapuram, Bapuji Childern Park); Kozhikkode (Main Beach and Mananchira ground); Kannur (Town Square and Payyambalam Beach); Wayanad (Pookkod Lake and Collectorate Garden, Kalpetta); Malappuram (Kottakkunnu Park and Beam bridge Ponnani); and Kasargod (Bekal Beach and Neeleswaram).
Some of the art forms that will be showcased include: Kolkali, Theyyam, Irulnritham, Ganabali, Paanaporatt, Kaakirinaata- kam, BhoothanumThirayum, Thidambnrtham, Poorakali, Poopadathullal, DharikaMayooranritham, Chimmanakali, Kothamoo- riyattam, Tholpaavakooth, Ayyappan Theeyaat, Nokkupaavavidya, Kanakanritham, Mayilaattam, Koratttunritham, and Sanghakali.
