Carnival News

When it rains, in the water and slush of paddy fields, normally farmers start ploughing and paddy planting. But who can imagine a football match in the slushy ground?

The paddy fields here witnessed the rare competition of foot-balling in mud that too in the rains which was part of many such unique items organised in connection with Splash-2009, the 9-day long Wayanad Tourism Carnival which is being organised under the auspices of Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO).
Thousands witnessed the spectacular scene including dignitaries like Roland Michaud, 80, noted French photographer.

In the final that held on Wednesday, Revival Team, Nadavayal won the first prize (Rs.5001) while Brothers Vilambukandam won second prize (Rs.3001). The competition was started on Tuesday with the opening match of children trained by Falcons Wayanad.

Though only 18 teams were registered earlier, due to rush of teams from various parts of the district, the organisers had to increase the number of competing teams to 24.

K Hamsa, Mansoor Ali, P J Pathrose and Louise were umpires in the muddy football match. A large crowd witnessed the competitions challenging the rains.

Along with the final round of Mud Football, various other popular agrarian competition items including njaru nadal (paddy transplanting), the peeling of the layers of banana stem, kambukayattam (climbing the slippery pole) and uriyadikkal (breaking the clay pots) also were held. In the crab catching competitions held on Tuesday Madhavi Vijayan bagged first catching 38 crabs in 40 minutes.

“With such competitions with roots in culture and tradition we hope to revive such vanishing popular items and to promote the traditional way of living”, says Praveen Symphony who is organising the outdoor programmes for WTO.

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Challenging the rains the people in the district are training themselves on how to celebrate monsoon with cultural programmes.

Thanks to ‘Splash 2009’, the Monsoon Carnival organised under the auspices of Wayanad Tourism Organisation. “We have ensured that each day of the carnival is being marked with a cultural show staged by the best team of artists in the nation”, said K R Vancheeswaran, general secretary, WTO.

“The series of programmes give exposure to the people to enjoy the best of a variety of art-forms both classical and modern”, he added.

In the continuing series, last one was Ha Bee Bee, a programme which showcases the cultural pieces of Malabar including Mappilappattu, Oppana and Kolkali. With hit numbers and new ones the Mappilappatt singers Shafi and Rahna on Tuesday enthralled the audience.

Giving a new experience to the rock lovers of the district, Thunder Rock, the programme dedicated to music lovers of the hill district literally rocked the Chandragiri Auditorium, the venue, on Monday. D J Shani, the lead singer of Fuel, the band, elevated the youth to ecstasy. Organisers had to arrange space for the young dancers when the dancing waves started to spill over to the ‘gentle’ regions where family audience were sitting.

Fuelling the rhythm of rockers and on repeated demand from the audience, Shani, the star vocalist himself came down to the floor singing with the steps of audience.

The Gazal Night by Sreenivas and Gayathri was one which helped the music lovers here to know the real Gazal with all its philosophical, musical and poetic grandeur. Unlike Gazal fans of other district, the Gazal lovers here seldom get chance to give ears straight to the Gazal masters. With the singers, the enchanted audience also elevated to the zenith of musical heights.

Another embarrassing experience was Ragavadyalayam, a fusion of Chenda and Nadaswaram.

Giving a rare musical feast, two giants Mattannoor Shankarankutti, the Chenda magician and Pallavoor Krishnankutti, the wizard in Nadaswaram, along with the keyboard master Gireesh Ulliyeri and 11 artists, were created a rare symphony. The traditional music instruments were used along with western instruments key board and drums.

The other attractions in the coming days are Mayooram (Wednesday), the dance show which is a blend of ‘classical, folk and fusion’ dance staged by Sithara Balakrishnan and team, Samanuayam (Thursday), a blend of folk song and folk dance to be staged by Anu Kadammanitta and team, Rain Bow (Friday), a musical combination of rain songs in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil (Ranjini Jose and team) and finally the Mega Show (Saturday) a ‘dance and music’ extravaganza.

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Yes. It happened. Rewriting and reinterpreting the aesthetics of unique Monsoon of Wayanad, Splash-2009, the Wayanadan Monsoon Carnival, became a reality.

E K Bharath Bhushan, financial advisor-tourism & culture, Govt of India here announced the 9 day carnival opened at Chandragiri Auditorium amid high celebrations by lighting the traditional lamp.

An elite audience packed with rain lovers and well wishers of WTO who have flown down from various parts of the globe witnessed the serene moment.

The key personalities one after another showered encomiums on WTO (Wayanad Tourism Organisation) which has succeeded in catapulting Wayanad, a backward district, into a high profile tourist destination of India.

“The meticulous spadework of stake holders in the tourism industry of Malabar finally started producing results giving a boost to the industry in the region”, E K Bharath Bushan said. Addressing the gathering he said that “the notion in other parts of the state that that “beyond Kochi there is no tourism” has been changed due to these concerted efforts”.

“I myself was a witness of the brave efforts taken by senior members of WTO to promote the tourism industry here at a period when there were no facilities here”, he noted.

Referring to the ideal positioning of the district in the tourism map he said that “Wayanad has all the ingredients essential for a tourism destination. “The district has the scenic beauty, the best wildlife sanctuary which has the highest density of Asiatic elephants in the World, variety of spices and uniquely cool climate”, he pointed out.

“The tourism department of the Union Government would be able to finance a project either to develop the entire destination by spending up to Rs.25 crore or developing the tourism zone including Wayanad spending Rs.50 crore”, he said.

M V Shreyamskumar MLA so of M P Veerendrakumar, the multi-faceted genius of South India, who presided over the function said that the efforts taken by WTO should be praised in promoting the destination. He also called for tourism development on a par with international standards.

“Our asset is nature and there should not be no compromise in any form of tourism development that affects nature”, said P Krishnaprasad MLA who delivered keynote address. So far WTO has succeeded in promoting ‘Wayanad Brand’ tourism without damaging the environment”, he said.

M Shivashankar, director, Kerala Tourism, presented the ‘Brand Wayanad and Way Forward’. Kamal, the legendary film director was awarded with the Celluloid Excellence Award.  Ranjini, the noted Television personality was the anchor of the programme. .

K R Vancheeswaran, general secretary, W T O introduced ‘Wayanad, WTO and Splash-09’.   Jose Kainady, president, WTO welcomed the gathering while O M Rakesh, convener, Splash-09 proposed a vote of thanks.

Cultural Delight.

The inaugural eve was also marked rich with cultural programmes. The traditional art-forms of Kerala like Theyyam, Kadhakali and the traditional dance of tribals of Wayanad found a place in the programmes.

Vijay Yesudas, son of legendary vocalist was the chief attraction of the day. Along with other singers of his band, he enthralled the audience with musical delight.  
Other dignitaries