Street magic to come alive at summit

Brochure of India Jaal

Snake charmers, juggling wizards, and the world of modern magic return to the city, this time bringing illusions and sleights from the numerous itinerant magicians across India.

India Jaal, a three-day magic summit on the theme of national integration to be held from August 13, will witness traditional magicians from the streets join hands with modern-day wizards to celebrate India's Independence.

The summit, organised by Magic Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, in association with the State Department of Tourism, is a corporate social responsibility project of Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Its main aim is to encourage and support the street magicians who are often neglected and endure hardship to keep their art alive. These magicians, far from receiving the recognition that modern day magicians and international illusionists boast, are often considered outcasts.

Magician Gopinath Muthukad of the Magic Academy told presspersons that Indian magicians hardly received any recognition for their age-old traditions. Through this summit, magicians from different parts of the country would be recognised for their work.

The first day of the summit will be held at Mahatma Centre, Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan. It will begin with the street magicians being honoured. It will be followed by street magic performed by magicians from States such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. This will be open to the public.

Magic classes by magician Darshwood, who is known for his hand tricks, mind reading, and hypnosis techniques, will be held the next day. Seminars and various competitions related to magic will be organised to create interest in magic. A special show titled ‘Fusion with Mission' by ‘Soorya' Krishnamurthy will be held at Netaji Centre (AKG Hall), the venue for the day's programmes.

To spread the message of freedom and national integrity, a march with film director Major Ravi will be organised in the city on the third day, also the day of India's Independence.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the valedictory of the event. It will be followed by a ‘Gala Magic show' organised at Netaji Centre.