Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 (UNI) The Kerala International Folk Festival, organised by the Kerala Folklore Academy, will conclude on Monday after five days of colourful cultural celebrations that brought together folk traditions from across the world and India, marked by seamless coordination and strong public participation.
The festival showcased an impressive array of folk art forms and cultural performances from countries such as Russia, China, Egypt, Ghana, Spain and Brazil.
In addition, traditional art forms from 16 Indian states and folk performances representing all 14 districts of Kerala were presented, alongside handicraft stalls and cultural exhibitions that attracted large crowds throughout the event.
The valedictory function will be held at 6 pm today and will be inaugurated by Minister for Higher Education Dr R. Bindu. Kerala Folklore Academy Secretary A. V. Ajayakumar will offer the welcome address, while Academy Chairman O. S. Unnikrishnan will preside over the ceremony.
During the past few days, performances including Ghana’s Akwaba Dance, Egypt’s Tanoura Dance, Chinese Lion Dance and Russian Ballet mesmerised audiences. Cultural presentations from Indian states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha were also well received. Visitors expressed delight at experiencing live performances that they had earlier encountered only through visual media, with many seen interacting with and photographing the artists.
Adding to the festival’s diversity, traditional culinary experts from Nepal, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan prepared and presented authentic ethnic cuisines as part of the event. Culinary teams from across India and various regions of Kerala also showcased a wide range of indigenous food traditions.
On the final day, Brazil’s Samba Dance and Spain’s Flamenco Dance will be the main highlights. Kerala Folklore Academy Secretary A. V. Ajayakumar said these dance forms are being staged on such a platform in Kerala for the first time and invited the public to take advantage of the opportunity to witness them at close quarters.
