Vibrant folk traditions came alive as folk artistes danced to the accompaniment of drum beats at the Durbar Hall ground here on Monday as curtains went up for the International Folk Fest of Kerala 2014.
Over the next four days, folk artistes from across India, Africa and Sri Lanka will join their counterparts in Kerala to showcase popular dance forms and other arts.
The fest is being organised by the Kerala Folklore Academy in association the Department of Culture; South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur; East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata; and the district administration. There will be folk art performances in the evening and workshops and seminars during the day. A workshop on Kalamezhuthu will be held at the Siva Temple auditorium on Tuesday. Padayani will be the theme of the workshop on Wednesday and the P.K. Kaalan Puraskaram will be presented in the evening.
On Thursday, the workshop will be on Theyyam and Mukhathezhuthu. A valedictory function will be held on Thursday evening in which eminent historian M.G.S. Narayanan will deliver a speech. Actor Nedumudi Venu will be the chief guest.
