THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor P Sathasivam has expressed hope that the Tourism Department would institute a separate Nishagandhi Festival for music.
The Governor’s comment came on Friday as the department had converted the event into an exclusively dance festival from this year. Inaugurating Nishagandhi Festival 2017 at Kanakakkunnu, he said; “I understand that from this year, it will be dedicated to dance to give focus to the Indian classical dance forms to ensure sanctity as a perfect dance festival. The decision is good, but I hope to see the birth of a separate Nishagandhi festival of Music soon,” he said.
The event, the most vibrant one in the capital city’s festival calendar, began as a dance fest in 1992. But in 2000, music concerts were also added making it a dance and music festival, according to the government.
Drawing attention to wider acceptance gained by the classical art forms, the Governor underlined the need to support folk arts and folk artistes. “I understand that Kerala Tourism has certain avenues for such folk arts, but I feel we could strengthen those activities so that it would encourage struggling artists,” he said.
Presiding over the opening function, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran justified the government’s decision to exclude music concerts.
“The government prefers to promote Nishagandhi Festival as a dance event. There are umpteen stages for music concerts, but this event should stand as an exclusive platform for eminent dancers who have dedicated their life to dance,” he said. The Governor presented this year’s Nishagandhi Award to mohiniyattam exponent Bharati Shivaji for her contributions to the dance form. Mayor V K Prasanth,
Bharati Shivaji, Tourism principal secretary Venu V and ward councillor Palayam Rajan spoke.
The festival will be on till January 26, and will feature some of the noted names in Indian classical dance forms. On the first evening, Aruna Mohanty and group performed Odissi.