International Kutiyattam Festival Set to Begin on July 29

Quick Summary

• Event: Kerala Kalamandalam is hosting the International Festival of Kutiyattam (IFK-2025) from July 29 to August 2, 2025, at its Cheruthuruthy campus.
• Purpose: Celebrates kutiyattam’s 60-year institutional journey at Kerala Kalamandalam.
• Opening Day: Inauguration by Padma Subrahmanyam at 9:30 a.m., with Vice-Chancellor B. Ananthakrishnan and registrar P.Rajeshkumar in attendance; includes a seminar on Natyashastra.
• Participants: Features leading Kutiyattam artists like Padmasree Kalamandalam Sivan Nambuthiri, Kalamandalam Ramachakyar, Ammannur Kuttan Chakyar, and others.
• Guru Memorial Day: Floral tribute and memorial conference for Guru Painkulam Ramachakyar on July 31.
• Meaning: Highlights the global heritage status of Kutiyattam as an ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition nurtured by institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The International Festival of Kutiyattam (IFK-2025) underscores India’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural legacy. By gathering global practitioners and scholars under one roof, the event fosters dialogue around a classical art form that dates back centuries while spotlighting Kerala’s pivotal role in sustaining it. The inclusion of academic sessions alongside performances reflects an integrated approach-pairing intellectual inquiry with artistic festivity-to ensure both contemporary relevance and historical continuity.

Kutiyattam’s international recognition as the world’s oldest living Sanskrit theatre tradition highlights India’s success in protecting intangible cultural assets amid globalization’s homogenizing forces. Events like IFK nurture knowledge across generations while solidifying India’s position as a custodian of diverse cultural wealth-a factor critical not just for heritage but also for advancing soft power globally.

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