The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Supporting tourism, arts

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Supporting tourism, arts

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Department of Tourism’s effort to promote traditional arts is slowly picking up, if the district authorities are to be relied.

Traditional art forms are staged at fixed venues on every Saturday as part of Utsavam, a programme designed to promote traditional art and artistes.

“Fort Kochi has given a good response to the programme. Kumbalanghi also have a warm response, whereas Muvattupuzha is getting a moderate response,” said A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, District Collector.

It was initially decided that Aluva would be one point for staging art forms. Lack of response made the authorities to shift the venue to the park at the mouth of Kumbalanghi tourism village.

Good patronage

The interest among public for traditional art forms is slowly increasing, while these performances help to preserve dying art forms and support the artistes, Mr. Hanish said.

Officials of the Kumbalanghi Model Tourism Village Development Society are encouraged by the response that the performances have evoked so far.

Ottanthullal was staged on the first week, Kathakali the second week. Last week, Padayani was staged. This will be followed by Koodiyattom next week.

The performances are being made from November through March, the whole tourism season. With the tourism season not really taking off this year, the art forms could be an attempt to revive flagging fortunes.

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