A Kashmiri walnut wood craftsman at work in Srinagar | photo credit: Nisar Ahmed
The Kalakshetra Foundation campus is now hosting over 200 folk artists, dancers, musicians, weavers, craftsmen and artists who are in Chennai to participate in the first edition of Vitasta, a festival to celebrate the spirit of Kashmir.
Program organized in collaboration with Kalakshetra Foundation and Ministry of Culture Amrit Mahotsav of IndependenceCelebrates the history, literature, folk dance, crafts and culinary traditions of Kashmir.
Renowned documentary filmmaker and creative director of Vitasta, Siddharth Kak says, “Vitasta also celebrates the relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kashmir, the cultural interaction between the two states will be the highlight of the four-day event.” Designed as a traveling show, it will also tour Maharashtra, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.
Revathi Ramachandran, director of Kalakshetra Foundation, says that Kashmiri folk dance forms will be choreographed on all days of the festival. “We have a spectacular coming together of two folk art forms, Bhand Pather from Kashmir and Therukuthu from Tamil Nadu (January 28, 5 pm),” she notes. There will also be Villupattu by Bharathi Thirumagan (January 29, 5.30 pm), Santoor recital by Abhay Rustum Sopori (January 29, 5 pm) and Kashmiri Sufi band Abha Hanjura (January 28, 5 pm).
The event will feature a food court serving Kashmiri street food set up by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation from 4 pm on January 28 and 29, along with stalls selling pashmina shawls, hand-woven fabrics, wood carvings and embroidery. Artisans will also conduct workshops on all the days of the event.
At Kanihama in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Kashmiri craftsmen weave special Kani shawls on handlooms with wooden needles and threads made of pashmina wool.
Entry is free for all programmes, seminars and workshops from 9am to 8pm at Vitasta till 30th January at Kalakshetra Foundation, Thiruvanmiyur.
vitasta highlights
28 January: Siddharth Kak Dance performance by Kalakshetra Foundation Video presentation on ‘Vitasta’ and ‘Buddhism in Kashmir’: Sharada Stotram and Vitasta Stuti Kashmir Folk Music Symphony and Folk Dance Medley
January 29: Sufi music and Kashmiri folk music by Abha Hanjura and troupe; Theater Presentation: A History of Buddhism, Kashmiri Shaivism and Abhinava Gupta, as Narrated by Vitasta, National School of Drama, Repertory and by Bhanda Pather and Therukuthu.
January 29: Santoor by Abhay Rustum Sopori and Mandali and Villupattu by Bharathi Thirumagan
Jan 30: Folk music symphony and folk dance medley: ‘Bharti Kanda Bharatam’ performance by Kalakshetra Foundation
In Dakshin Chitra, January 28: Santoor by Mr. Abhay Rustum Sopori and troupe: 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm: Folk performance/crafts workshop and craft stall 11.00 am to 5.00 pm: ‘Sophistication’ – Sufi Music by Abha Hanjura and Kashmiri folk music and troupe at 5.00 p.m.