Vallachira Panchayath Onagosham
The Onam celebrations of Vallachira—‘Vallachira Panchayath Onagosham’— is about to go world. A Accountable Tourism Firm, The Blue Yonder, together with Kerala Tourism is pivoting the festivities of the village, 15 kms from Thrissur, as a showcase for travellers. A pre Onam pageant held in July 2023, had 25 vloggers and trade stakeholders from 21 international locations expertise this distinctive cultural fiesta of the locality.
A harvest pageant, the origins of Onam pageant are within the legend of King Mahabli and Vamana, the avatar of the Hindu God, Mahavishnu.
What makes the Vallachira Onam so particular?
Interstingly, in 1962, the Authorities of Kerala urged all panchayats within the State to have a good time and promote the regional pageant with gusto. Each panchayat responded with enthusiasm however none was capable of stick with it with the festivities 12 months after 12 months, “with out a break”, apart from Vallachira.
“The pageant was held even in the course of the Emergency years(1975-77). We took particular permission from the authorities and practised the dances. Aside from the 2018 floods and the COVID 19 lockdown in 2020, the pageant has been held non -stop, yearly. Now it’s set to get greater,” says Thommy Pidiyath,President of Celebration Committee.
“Vallachira is a centre for folks artwork and theatre,” says N Manoj, Panchayat President including that the village has 6,500 homes and a inhabitants of 25,000. “Out of this 1500 persons are instantly concerned within the pageant and 5000 are related unofficially.”
He speaks concerning the village’s 16 youth golf equipment that interact in video games and efficiency competitions related to the pageant and its historic join with folks performances steeped in mythology, custom and tradition.
A number of the performances that originate listed here are the Iverkali, staged by 5 male dancers and associated to the story of the 5 Pandavas, songs associated to snake worship, pulluvan paatu; to the feminine vitality and Goddess, Nanthuni paatu, Villu paatu or bow songs, often known as Villadichampaatu, an historical type of musical storytelling.
What’s interetsing in these reveals are using archaic devices just like the the villu (a one string bow)that’s used as a main musical instrument.
The mega Thiruvathirakali with 130 members on Atham, August 19, 2023 at Vallachira
Although the artwork varieties are largely Hindu in origin, the Onam pageant is secular in nature and performances like Margamkali, a dance type that narrates the story of the apostle St Thomas, and Kolkali, a Malabari dance of the Muslim neighborhood too is carried out. The Thiruvathirakali ,a singular dance carried out by girls has as many as 100 members.
Manoj says that plans are afoot to showcase all these actions around the 12 months in a bid to generate tourism and earnings for the artists. In line with him, a single dance programme means an earnings of ₹15,000 to the group, in addition to earnings for occasion firms.
The village has a number of illustrious women and men within the subject of artwork and literature like conventional dance performer, Usha Nangiar,
Conventional dance performer Usha Nangiar who hails from the village is happy with the locality’s deep join with artwork and literature. In line with her the pageant has grown manifold and has new parts like roadshows and march previous by the golf equipment. She additionally lists out names of illustrious women and men of artwork and literature from the village—movie director Priyanandhan, writers NV Krishna Warrier and Mullanezhi, Director Shashidharan who began Nadakamdweep, a theatre group at Vallachira, a few years in the past.
A march previous by the 16 golf equipment can be held on Thiruvonam, August 29 at 3pm and conclude with patriotic songs.