Kerala - Kannur   

Popularising Kalaripayattu

KANNUR: A ‘Kerala Kalari Gramam’ being developed here jointly by the Kerala Folklore Centre Trust and the Kerala Kalaripayattu Akademi will focus on training the traditional martial arts of the State, Kalari massaging and ethnic healing, among other things.

A traditional ‘kuzhikalari’ (an area dug in the ground where Kalari training is imparted) had already been arranged on the premises of the trust at Chemmarasserippara, near Azhikode, for starting the Kerala Kalari Gramam, trust chairman A.K. Nambiar, academy president Mohan Peter and Kannur District Kalaripayattu Association secretary K.P. Abdul Khader said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The ‘gramam,’ which is being established in commemoration of the golden jubilee of the association, would be inaugurated by social critic Sukumar Azhikode here on May 30, they said.

The inaugural function to be held at 6 p.m. would be followed by the staging of Kalaripayattu performance by the artists of the academy and presentation of folk songs by the Souparnika Nadan Pattu Sanghom at Athazhakunnu here, they said. Association State secretary Poonthura Soman would also attend the function.

Mr. Khader said the golden jubilee of the association would be inaugurated in the morning at the Sports Council Hall by Inspector-General of Police V. Shantharam. He said that 90 Kalaris under the association would participate in golden jubilee. Free Kalari healing camps would be conducted as part of the celebration, he said. Seminars would be organised in 10 centres, including at Manikkakavu temple and Valapattanam Kalarivathukkal temple that had rich Kalari traditions.

Mr. Khader said that a three-day Kalaripayattu district championship competitions would be organised in November as part of the conclusion of the golden jubilee. The association would also conduct school and college level quiz competitions on the history of the martial arts, he said.

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

Stories in this Section

Popularising Kalaripayattu
New municipal vice-chairman for Kannur
Story writing workshop
Soil, water conservation efforts
Women entrepreneurs find the going tough

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu