Kerala   

Pilgrimage in search of self-expression

— Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Celebration of colours: A scene from the all-India children’s painting competition organised by Universal Arts in Kozhikode on Tuesday.

It is like an annual pilgrimage in search of self-expression for most of the young artists who came to participate in an all-India children’s painting competition organised by Universal Arts in Kozhikode.

The 51st edition of the event, Varnolsavam - 2010, lived up to its billing attracting more than 10,000 participants from different parts of the State and outside.

The two massive hallways of the Kandamkulam Jubilee Hall here were brimming with budding talents by 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Many had to wait in a queue outside the hall for those who got in first to complete their paintings. New batches of young painters kept on coming to the venue even after the stipulated time of 1 p.m.

“We had more than 10,000 artists for the event last year, including 40 from outside the State,” said one of the organisers and a veteran artist K.V. Shivanandan. He said the number would be “more than that by any means” this year.

Besides being arguably one of the biggest on-the-spot painting competitions for children in Asia, this painting gala is also know for its style of conduct and the number of prizes it hands out in different categories.

Including worthy prizes for the first, second and third place winners in different age categories, the event offers gold medals, rolling trophies and more than 1,500 consolation prices .

The participants are asked to bring their brush to draw while papers and colours are issued by the organisers. “We have participants from almost all the districts in the State and most of them are regulars to this event every year,” said Mr. Shivanandan.

“I started attending this painting mela three years back and it is a thrilling experience to draw as one among the thousands,” said P.P. Midhun, a VI standard student from Azhikode in Kannur.

There is competition for kids in 15 different categories of age from three to 18. Some participants like K. Thafani from Chaliyam were coming to the event after participating in painting competitions elsewhere. “I rushed after finishing the first competition in my native place in a hurry not to miss this event,” said an enthused Thafani.

There were also participants like K. Sadik from Malappuram, an animation diploma student at the Toons Academy here, who were participating in the event for the first time. “I came to know about this from my friends and rushed to the venue after my class,” said Sadik.

According to Mr. Shivanandan, the event held on a holiday every year for the convenience of students, asks for no registration or registration fee. “Instead, we offer sweets and other refreshments to all the participants free of cost at the venue,” he said.

The first, second and third place winners in each category will be given prizes besides the gold medals for the best boy and girl painters. There is also a gold medal named after the founder of the painting mela (Antony master gold medal) for the best painter of the event besides a medal for the best painting with social commitment. The winners of the event will be presented prizes at a public function on April 10 in Kozhikode.

Jabir Mushthari

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

Stories in this Section

Karunakaran renews bid
Banks may face crisis if steps to check recession fail: AIBEA
Talent show
Railway doubling work
State BJP office-bearers
Festival finale
Caution against bank crisis
Pilgrimage in search of self-expression
CInema
Saluting the nation
In command
Chief Minister’s police medals
A man of vision and action
Delay in launch of baggage screening system at airport
Khadi craft

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu