Kerala   

Rediscovering the ritual heritage

The ritual heritage of north Malabar, rich in local traditions and folklore, may hardly need any prop for its survival. However, a cultural tourism project, proposed at Madayippara in Kannur by the Tourism Department, is expected to help people rediscover that heritage.

There is no better place to develop cultural tourism in the region than Madayipara, a flat-topped hillock overlooking Payangadi town, on the northern bank of the Kuppam river.

The proposed project has been modelled on the region's culture, ecology and beauty. The hillock, a laterite plain of more than 365 hectares in area, is culturally, archaeologically and historically important to the people of the area. The project, estimated at Rs. 5 crores, has been sanctioned by the Union Government.

The objectives of the project to be started are not restricted to tourism development alone. They include, as the project report says, revitalisation of the age-old culture of the region, revival of ritualistic tradition, introduction of welfare schemes for ritual-performing artistes, protection of rich biodiversity of the hillock as well as utilisation of tourism potential of the hillock, which includes its attraction as a pilgrim and cultural tourism centre.

Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, during his recent meeting on tourism projects in the district, said the project meant the development of a cultural village at Madayippara. The project was meant to showcase the unique cultural heritage of the region, he said, observing that it would be a great contribution of the State on the tourism map.

The project is conceived as having four zones: ritual zone, tourism zone, living zone and special zone.

In the ritual zone, a typical `kavu' (sacred grove) with kalari (workshop) will be built as a venue for performance of Theyyam and other performing art forms and as a training centre for ritual arts. It will also house a ritual arts museum, Ayurvedic heritage and yoga centre, martial arts centre, artisans' village and library and research centre, among other things.

The tourist zone will comprise an information centre, parking area, restaurant and children's park, among other things. Ten `ashrams' (huts), a dining hall and a meditation cave are conceived as part of the living zone. The special zone will be designed as green zone, biodiversity zone and fish culture zone.

The hillock being rich in biodiversity, the project envisages development of a medicinal plant garden and indigenous flower garden. A pathway will be built between Madayikavu and Vadukuntha Shiva Temple, two ancient Hindu temples on the hillock.

Mohamed Nazeer

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kerala to revise VAT collection target
Relief for endosulfan victims likely
Rediscovering the ritual heritage
Young poet to launch his first collection
A surprise act
Rare show of unity among the fisherworkers
Of concern to the common man
Against the ban
Festival opens
In action
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu