VEEDHI VIRUDHU VIZHA 2020

The "Veedhi Viruthu Vizha" 2020 was conducted on 11th and 12th January 2020.

It's a festival to honor old traditional art forms and enhancing the interest in traditional folk arts. It was an opportunity given by Loyola College and the leaders of the folk art forms to other artists.

More than 7000 folk artists exposed their talents to the common public in the festival. Those who entered the college could feel themselves in a village atmosphere during the festival. Folk arts from all parts of India were performed.

I was able to remember few of the folk art forms like Balakaragam which was performed by a 5 year old girl all the way from Dubai. "Bala" the word itself means infant. It was mindblowing to watch the 5 year old girl dance to the beat so perfectly with the karagam(pot) on her head , standing on plates, knife, pot, glass pieces, nails, etc. Based on the age category of the person dancing karagattam, karagattam is differentiated into various categories.

Silambattam is a defensive and heroic art. It was beautiful to watch the girls and boys of various age categories play "silambam" which is a long stick which is twisted and played along with the beat of the Parai.

The parai is one of the oldest folk art forms which is played along with a dance, which can make anyone dance, as if dance is in our blood.

Oyilattam is a folk dance form which is danced by a group of men and women with colorful handkerchiefs. This is a visual treat to the eyes.

Saatai kuchi is also a traditional folk dance in which the dancers dance with long saatai(sticks). 

Numerous art forms were performed during this festival and the artists were also honored with cash prize and memoranda.

It is depressing to hear that most of these artists dance and sing to earn a mere amount of money because of the poverty in their families. The money they earn is not enough to even provide daily needs like food and shelter to them.