International Seminar on Cultural Diversity and the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage at Central University of Kerala, Periye.

Folkland International Centre for Folklore and Culture organized a special lecture at Payyanur College featuring Dr. Anjana Puri, noted ethnomusicologist and visiting faculty at the National School of Drama, New Delhi. Dr. Puri spoke on India’s rich Katha Gayaki tradition, exploring the diversity of ballads across regions—from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. She emphasized how these narrative songs, while based on shared themes, vary in language, style, and performance, shaped by each region's unique geography and culture. The session was presided over by Principal Prof. V.M. Santosh, who honoured Dr. Puri with a silk shawl. Dr. V. Jayarajan, Chairman of Folkland, introduced her, highlighting her contributions to preserving traditional music. Additional remarks were shared by Dr. A.C. Sreehari, Dr. Anila, Dr. Sindhu, and Nandana Gopi. The event offered valuable insights into India’s storytelling traditions and reaffirmed the message of unity in diversity through the lens of folklore and performance.