Rooted in sacred tradition and enriched by artistic expression, the Cultural Festival held at Chettikulangara Devi Temple as part of the Upanishad Geetha Mahasatram unfolded as a vibrant celebration of India’s living heritage. Transforming the temple precincts into a dynamic cultural space, the festival seamlessly brought together ritual practices, classical and folk arts, and community participation.
Featuring diverse traditions such as Gotipua, Baul music, Manipuri Raas Leela, Odissi, Ghoomar, Koraputia dance, and Kharsawan Chhau, the event highlighted the deep connection between spirituality, artistic expression, and everyday life. More than a series of performances, the festival emerged as a holistic cultural experience, reaffirming that heritage is a living, evolving force that continues to inspire and connect communities across generations.
The festival offered a profoundly enriching experience to audiences drawn from diverse backgrounds. By bringing together ritual practices, living traditions, and performing arts, the event transcended the boundaries of a conventional cultural programme and evolved into a holistic celebration of heritage. The dynamic interaction between sacred rituals, traditional art forms, and the temple’s architectural milieu vividly illustrated how cultural heritage remains deeply embedded in everyday life and worship spaces. Both tangible elements—such as architecture, costumes, and musical instruments—and intangible dimensions—ritual knowledge, artistic expression, and collective memory—were meaningfully articulated through carefully curated performances.
The cultural programmes, presented under the title Vinodha Sadas (Entertainment Session), formed an integral component of the overall festival experience. These presentations enriched the spiritual ambience of the temple while reinforcing the festival’s commitment to preserving and presenting Kerala’s diverse cultural expressions.
Through this dynamic and living cultural expression, the festival reaffirmed the enduring relationship between spirituality, community life, and artistic traditions. It powerfully illustrated that heritage is not a static inheritance of the past, but a continuously evolving force shaping contemporary social and cultural consciousness.
Live musical accompaniment featuring tabla, harmonium, flute, and devotional vocals enhanced the immersive quality of the performance. The tradition’s historical significance is underscored by the fact that many legendary Odissi masters, including Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, began their artistic journeys as Gotipua dancers. Today, the form continues to be preserved through gurukuls, notably in Raghurajpur, ensuring the transmission of this sacred legacy.
Accompanied by instruments such as the ektara, khamak, duggi, and cymbals, the performance created a serene soundscape that invited introspection. Recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Baul music offered a profound spiritual counterpoint to the ritual and classical traditions presented during the festival.
The festival featured Manipuri Raas Leela, presented by the Centre for Youth and Cultural Activities, Manipur. Deeply rooted in Vaishnavism, this classical dance-drama depicts the divine love of Radha and Krishna through restrained elegance, meditative calm, and lyrical expression.
Institutionalised by King Bhagyachandra, Manipuri Raas Leela retains its ritual sanctity while evolving as a refined classical form. Characterised by soft, fluid movements and subtle abhinaya, the dance emphasises collective harmony rather than dramatic intensity. The iconic Potloi costume, ornate head adornments, and devotional music transformed the stage into a sacred and contemplative space.
An evocative Odissi dance recital by Geetanjali Acharya and Seethal Sharma, presented in association with the Rag Virag Educational and Cultural Organisation, offered a deeply aesthetic experience. Rooted in Odisha’s temple culture, Odissi embodies devotion through fluid torso movements, intricate footwork, expressive mudras, and sculptural poses.
The performance sensitively explored the form’s foundational stances—Chowka and Tribhanga—balancing strength and grace. Through refined abhinaya and controlled transitions, the recital unfolded as a meditative journey, reflecting Odissi’s enduring spiritual and artistic resonance.
The vibrant folk tradition of Ghoomar was presented by the Rag Virag Educational and Cultural Organisation. Originating in Rajasthan, Ghoomar celebrates womanhood, collective joy, and social harmony. Traditionally performed during festivals and life-cycle rituals, the dance symbolises dignity, grace, and cultural continuity.
Graceful spinning movements, rhythmic footwork, and colourful Rajputi Poshak costumes created a mesmerising visual spectacle, enhanced by traditional folk music featuring dhol and shehnai.
Representing the tribal heritage of southern Odisha, Koraputia (Gadaba) dance was presented in association with Bangla Natak Dot Com and Axis Bank Foundation. Performed by indigenous communities such as the Gadaba, Kondh, and Paraja, these dances are deeply connected to nature, agrarian cycles, and communal rituals.
Group formations, rhythmic repetition, live percussion, and symbolic costumes reflected collective identity, ecological wisdom, and ancestral memory. As a living tradition, Koraputia dance embodies cultural resilience and continuity.
Kharsawan Chhau is a refined and lyrical style of the Chhau dance tradition practised in the Seraikella–Kharsawan region of present-day Jharkhand. Rooted in royal court culture and enriched by indigenous folk and tribal influences, this form represents a sophisticated synthesis of martial discipline, aesthetic restraint, and expressive storytelling.
Unlike the mask-based Chhau traditions found in other regions, Kharsawan Chhau is traditionally performed without masks, placing primary emphasis on facial expression, eye movements, and subtle body articulation. The absence of masks allows for nuanced abhinaya, demanding a high degree of control, sensitivity, and technical mastery from the performer. Grace, balance, and sculptural clarity define the movement vocabulary, with an emphasis on lyrical flow rather than overt athleticism.
