Thanavattam Folk Fest – 2026 functioned as an integrated platform for the safeguarding, documentation, and transmission of Kerala’s ritual and folk heritage, with particular focus on the ritual art form Kuthiyottam. Through scholarly seminars, practitioner-led demonstrations, documentary screening, and live performances, the festival facilitated meaningful dialogue between tradition bearers, researchers, and the public. By foregrounding ritual knowledge, embodied practice, and endangered folk expressions such as Vamana Nritham, the festival reaffirmed the importance of community participation and intergenerational transmission in sustaining Intangible Cultural Heritage.
