District Collector C.A. Latha inaugurated a study camp for ‘Ooralikkoothu’ at KIRTADS here on Tuesday.
‘Ooralikkoothu’ is a traditional art form of the Oorali tribe in Idukki district, which is performed in a narrative style, mostly by women. It is performed mostly during Onam, Vishu, and Sivaratri, and also during weddings as a mode of entertainment. Through the camp, KIRTADS aims at brining yet another endangered tribal art form to the younger generation and to the mainstream.
In her inaugural address, the Collector said tribal culture could be sustained through such camps and appreciated the efforts of KIRTADS towards the end. She suggested that KIRTADS join hands with the Tourism Department to promote tribal art forms through the latter’s programmes such as ‘Gothrayanam’.
Scholar Raghavan Payyanad, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that tribal arts should be set in such a way as to transmit the specialities of the tribal culture to the new generation, besides entertainment.
Noted ‘Ooralikkoothu’ artiste Poomali Mooppathi from Pattayakkudi tribal colony in Vannappuram, Idukki, spoke on the occasion. KIRTADS Director Bindu S., Deputy Directors of KIRTADS Mini V.P. and K.S. Pradeep Kumar besides ‘Ooralikkoothu’ artistes Balan, Gangadharan, and Janaki Damodaran were present.
