THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Utsavam 2015’, organised under the aegis of Tourism Department, was inaugurated by Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar on the Museum premises on Thursday.
‘Nokkuvidya pavakali’ artiste Pankajakshi Amma, ‘Chattupattu’ artiste Kalathil Velayudhan Poojari and ‘Padayani’ exponent Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai were honoured on the occasion.
The inaugural day had performances by Sudheer Mulloorkkara on ‘Thiri uzhichilum pattum’, Janardhanan Puthussery and team on traditional instruments, Unnikrishnan’s ‘Velichapadu thullal’ ‘Poothanayum thirayum’ and Kurichi Natesan’s ‘Arjuna nrutham.’
Programmes will be held on Museum premises in the evenings till Monday. During the inaugural function, K Muraleedharan MLA, ward councillor Leelamma Issac and Tourism Director P I Sheik Pareeth were present. The event is conducted every year with the aim of conserving traditional and indigenous art forms.