Kochi: The Travancore Devaswom Board, in tie-up with the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi, is planning to set up a deemed university for traditional temple arts to retain the ancient art forms. “The musical instruments and the visual arts that existed in temples will be taught. We’re already running a ‘Kshetra Kalapeetom’ at the Vaikom temple. The good response evoked for the institution prompted us to initiate the move,” said Mr Prayar Gopalakrishnan, TDB president.
The students who complete the three-year courses will be absorbed by the board for being deployed in its temples. “Currently, there is an acute shortage of artistes performing the temple arts. The courses will be even extended to foreigners who show a keen interest. Already, we’re receiving queries on Kathakali,” he said.
The courses are planned on various musical instruments such as Itayka, Chenda, Thavil, Sudha Maddalam and Kitu-piti, wind instruments such as conch shell, Kombu and Nadawaram besides traditional arts like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Chakyar Kootu, Nangiar Koothu, Theyyam, Sopana Sangeetam and Ottamthullal.
As a first step, a workshop on traditional arts forms would be held on the premises of the Thirunakkara Mahadevar Temple, Kottayam, in August. “All the current famous artistes in their respective fields are being invited. We’ll work out the modalities in consultation with them at the time,” he said. Meanwhile, the board would start more courses in addition to the existing ten at the Vaikom Kshetra Kalapeetom.
