The Hindu : Front Page : Folk art performances planned near Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

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Folk art performances planned near Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

R. Sairam

Tourism Department to launch ‘Theruvora Thiruvizha’ in Madurai

MADURAI: Visitors to Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple can soon look forward to another attraction in the form of ‘Theruvora Thiruvizha’ (streetcorner festival). It is likely to be launched on World Tourism Day (September 27), when the State-level Tourism Festival will be held here.

“Street plays will be held on Chithirai Streets around the temple during weekends. The proposal has been prepared jointly by District Tourist Officer and Assistant Director of Art and Culture in consultation with renowned folk artiste Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan,” Collector S.S. Jawahar told The Hindu.

The district administration has identified 52 folk art forms, some of which are not practiced around Madurai. In the first phase, these 52 would be featured, he said.

Besides infusing a new life into these folk arts, the festival would be an added attraction to thousands of tourists who visit the temple, said District Tourist Officer K. Dharmaraj.

“We are going to come up with a calendar featuring schedule of each folk art.”

One art form a week

In the first phase, one folk art will be performed in a week, thereby having a new performance every week for the entire year.

Some of the main art forms chosen include ‘karagaatam,’ ‘oyilattam,’ ‘fire dance’ and rural martial arts.

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