KOCHI: With the monsoon season coming to a close and Kerala gearing up to welcome Onam, art lovers of God’s Own Country can get a taste of India’s cultural palate. The Bharat Bhavan in the capital is hosting the monsoon dances of India and boasts of a variety of dances including the ‘Bhangra’ dance of Punjab to the ‘Karagattam/Kavadi’ of Tamil Nadu. Titled ‘Indian Monsoon Fest’, the event which is being held across the state, will showcase art forms from different parts of the country. The cultural programme is being held by Bharat Bhavan in association with the South Zone Cultural Centre, Government of Kerala.
While the Cultural Exchange Centre organises similar cultural events frequently, this one is different, said Rajesh V K, event coordinator. “The dance forms we are showcasing through the fest are those which are associated with the monsoon season. It is through these dance forms that people share their happiness.”
The event which will be on till Sunday was first staged in the state at Kolapuram in Kannur district. “The group which includes 150 artistes from 10 states including Kerala, has since travelled to Payyannur, Neeleshwaram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Pattambi, Thrissur and Mavelikkara. The tour will conclude at Palakkad. “
According to him, there are still folk arts like Siddi Dhamal- a dance form performed by the Siddhi community of Gujurat, a community which had migrated to the country from Africa over 700 years ago during the days of slavery. The folk art forms which will be showcased at the fest also include Odisha’s Sambalpuri Dance, Andhra Pradesh’s Garagalu, Dhimsa Dance of Telengana, Mayur Nritya of Uttar Pradesh, Dollu Kunitha- a drum dance of Karnataka, Maharashtra’s Lavani dance and other indigenous folk dance forms of Kerala. Said Pramod Payyanur, member secretary, Bharat Bhavan, “The aim of the event is to take these art forms and familiarise them with all the districts, including villages in the state.”
After the Monsoon Fest, Bharat Bhavan is coming forward with another Indian folk festival which will tour the southern districts during September, starting from Palakkad and winding up at the capital city.
Apart from this, a variety of cultural programmes are lined up as part of the Onam festivities which will be held by the Tourism Department at the Semmangudi Smriti auditorium at Bharat Bhavan.