Utsavam 2018, the seven-day festival of traditional and folk arts, got under way in Kozhikode on Saturday with Vattappattu, Oppana, Sheethankan Thullal and Vilpattu. The opening of the 10th edition of the festival was met with much enthusiasm as people waited patiently for hours on Kozhikode beach to enjoy the art forms, most of which are considered endangered.
While Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran performed the State-level inauguration of the festival in Kannur, Director Board member of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation A.V. Prakash opened the Kozhikode edition of the festival. Additional District Magistrate T. Jenil Kumar presided over.
Utsavam, jointly organised by the Department of Tourism and the District Tourism Promotion Council, is being held for the tenth consecutive year. The festival, which used to be held in the Sarovaram open air theatre in the previous years, has been shifted to the Kozhikode Beach (opposite corporation office) and the newly renovated S.K. Square on S.M. Street this year, with expectations of a better response from the public.
Around 150 traditional, nomadic and ritualistic art forms carrying the flavour of the State are being performed by around 5,000 artistes across the State during the seven days.
Sasthampattu, Padayani, Koraga dance, Chimmanakali, Kenthron Theyyam, Velakali, Kakkarissi Natakam, Mudiyettu, Pooppada Thullal, Mappilappattu, Parichamuttukali, folk songs, Poorakkali, Alamikkali, Kalamezhuthu Pattu, Mayilattam, Margamkali, Thottampattu and Kolkkali are some of the art forms to be performed in Kozhikode in the coming days.
The performances start at 6.30 p.m. every day at the beach and S.M. Street venues.
