8-Apr-2018: 8th Theatre Olympics Concludes in Mumbai
After a glorious run of 51 days across 17 cities of India, the historic event 8th Theatre Olympics drew to a colourful close in Mumbai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Culture Minister said that the 8th Theatre Olympics aimed to showcase the rich heritage and culture across the length and breadth of the country. He expressed satisfaction at the success of the event, which he recalled witnessed 450 shows from more than 30 countries performed across 17 Indian cities. He said that given the immense diversity of the country, how India remains united is a matter of wonder for many other countries. The Minister said that the power which keeps India united, despite its immense heterogeneity, is its rich heritage and culture.
‘Rang Shikhar’, a vibrant collage of tribal, folk and theatre performances, followed the closing ceremony.
The 8th Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu on 17th February 2018 at the majestic Red Fort in New Delhi. This edition of Theatre Olympics brought together around 25,000 artists under the theme “Flag of Friendship”. The event witnessed 450 shows from more than 30 countries performed across 17 cities such as Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram, and Varanasi during the festival.
The 51-day long 8th Theatre Olympics, the biggest international theatre festival held in India for the first time, staged more than 400 plays and hosted 78 allied events including 34 Living Legend series, 29 Master Classes, 7 Interfaces, 6 national and international seminars and 2 workshops across 17 cities. Besides, about 600 ambience performances and 250 youth forum shows took place during the nationwide event.
14-Mar-2017: Annual Padayani festival held with fervour
The annual Padayani festival at the Bhagavathykunnu Devi temple at Elanthoor, came to conclusion with the grand finale of Valiya Padayani.
A ceremonial procession displaying the majestic Bhairavi and various other kolams made of exquisitely carved raw areca palm spathes was held with ritualistic fervour as part of the Valiya Padayani. Natural colours were used for making the masks which require great skill.
Different types of Padayani kolams, which include the kolams of Ganapati, Bhairavi, Anthara yakshi, Maya yakshi, Arakki yakshi, Pakshi, Yakshi, Maadan, Marutha, Kanjiramaala, Kuthira and Siva Kolam, were taken out in a ritualistic procession to the temple precincts around 11.30 p.m. The procession was held to the accompaniments of Thappu, a unique padayani percussion, rhythmic padayani verses and indigenous torchlights made of dry coconut palm leaves after Athazhapuja at the Bhagavathy temple.
Hundreds of devotees coming from different parts of Central Travancore took part in the procession. Performance of the majestic Bhairavi Kolam was a major attraction at the Valiya Padayani that drew to a close with ‘Pooppada thullal’.