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Tag: Jyotsna the singer

Festive Summer Nights of Kerala

The festival season is on in Kerala.  The hot midsummer nights are transformed into convivial carnivals of music, dance and performance in a variety of ways in various locations of culture.  Temples and churches are throbbing with their annual festivals.  These religious centers become secular in these sociable and inclusive nights that open up for everyone.

Pop concerts called Ganamela: Leading young playback singer Jyotsna in full swing

Both popular and elite cultural forms pull audiences from all walks of life.  There are still hegemonic and orthodox traits in some aspects like the parading of elephants and temple purity and pollution culture that are both anti human and anti aniamal. But still the old democratic spirit and egalitarianism of Kerala’s Sramana heritage of Buddhism and Jainism are reminiscent in the festival culture.  The temple festivals in Kerala are actually the lasting legacy of Buddhist and Jain festival rituals appropriated later by Hindu Brahmanism as they converted the temples in the 8th and 9th centuries.

Classical concert by Priya Sisters

But still the popular performances and music in these starry nights are a true democratization of culture and celebration of the secular human spirit. The dynamism and creative energy of Kerala’s young talents are expressed  amidst mixed crowds and fans of this unique festive gaiety that surpasses caste, gender, class, age and locality.  The hegemonic and reiterating elements must be checked and the secular and democratic spirit must be upheld by the people.  Let me leave you with glimpses of this vibrant creative energy and local life culture.

Gopi Asan: A star in Kathakali
A favorite duo: Kalamandalam Gopi and Margi Vijayakumar
Hot and spicy: Boiled corns for sale
Festival shops and colors
A senior Pan seller at the festival
Illuminating toys on display
Children enjoying with fire crackers
Lord of Peacocks among humans: A folk performer of Mayuranritham
Ultimate Performer: Pop diva Jyotsna
Luring the crowds: Jyotsna in pop concert
Bio power of music: Jyotsna in action
Democratizing Art: Jyotsna singing to the people

Related posts:

  1. First Malayalam Book on Cultural Politics in Kerala
  2. Zizek in Kerala: Kochi Life 2010
  3. International Theatre Festival of Kerala 2012
  4. Fort Kochi: Kerala’s Window to the World
  5. Mamankam and Changampally Kalari: Ancient Practices of Healthcare and Martial Arts in Kerala
Posted on April 20, 2010June 7, 2013Categories Cultural PoliticsTags Buddhist festival culture reminiscent in Kerala, carnival culture of Kerala, Elephant procession in Kerala, elite culture in Kerala, Ganamela, high and pop art in Kerala, historic account of Kerala festivals, Images of Jyothsna the leading Malayalam female singer, images of temple festivals in Kerala, Jyotsna, Jyotsna images, Jyotsna the singer, Kalamandalam Gopi Asan, Kathakali, Keala culture, Kerala festivals, Kerala temple festivals, Margi Vijayakumar, Mayuranritham images, Night carnivals in Kerala, popular art forms in Kerala, Sramana legacy in temple festival culture in Kerala, Summer nights in KeralaLeave a comment on Festive Summer Nights of Kerala
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