1463 Rural folk singers made their "Arangettam" in a single stage at a time

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1463 Rural folk singers made their "Arangettam" in a single stage at a time. Report of this Historical Event
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"GramaThudippu"– The "Arangettam" (First Public Performance)
of folk song presented by 1463 Rural folk artists.

Report: 25th January 2009

In our knowledge, this is the LARGEST FOLKSONG 'ARANGETAM' by 1463 artists at one stage at a time singing a folk song ever happened in world. (We have sent the agreement letter with Guinness Book of World Records about the function.)

Date : 23rd January, 2009. Friday. Time: 3.59 PM IST

Venue: Raappadi Open air auditorium, Fort Maidan, Palakkad Town, Kerlala State, India.

Participation: 41 institutions (32 Schools, 7 Colleges, 2 Non Governmental Organisations)

Category of performers: Lower Primary school students to representatives of youth organisations.

The inaugural function: Inaugural function started by Mr. Janardanan Puthussery by singing a song dedication to lord Kali – durga in due form. The formal the welcome speech made.by Mr. Ashok Nemmara, the secretary of AAshrayam, who is also the team leader of the entire function. Mr.A.K Nambiar,Secretary, Folklore academy, Kannur, Kerala. Mr. V.C.Kabeer, EX-Health Minister of Kerala presided over the function – he is also the patron of the organizing institution. Inauguration made by the chief guest, by lighting 'Vazha vilakku' and delivering a speech on the necessasity to protect such folk arts. In which he pointed out that now a days the originality of the folk arts are loosing by manipulating it for commercialization. He insisted to protect the original arts by keeping its real identity.

The Arangettam by the 1463 artists at one stage at a time irrespective of age, sex and social status, synchronizing their voice modulations Chanted the :”Parunthu Paattu” (Bird –kite song) Thayyom Thaka Tharooom Thittha … Appripparunthe Parunthe Maanathe Chemparunthe.. It is the sharing the love with the kite which is on the top of all bird species with sharp and keen sense, flies at the highest location on the sky, who protects human beings by way of lifting the pests from our surroundings. The song was also dedicated to the biodiversity which is the human race and the society.

Program dedication: Towards Global peace and happiness as the society is passing through terrorism, racialism, discrimination and violence.

Mr. K.Kunjahammed, Youth Co-ordinator of Palghat District Nehru Vuva Kendra under the Ministry of Youth affairs and sports took the role of Oath taking ceremony towards global peace and harmony.

Mr. K. Achuthan, Member of Legislative Assembly of Kerala, Mr.S.Guruvayurappan, Project officer& co-ordinator for south India of Wildlife Protection Society of India Mr. Viswom, Folklore artist Mr. Chettoor Radhakrishnan artist were also attended the inaugural function. Mr. Radhkrishnan, The finance fecilitator Mr. Vivesh Vithnassery was also on the stage and was in charge of the reception team. Vice president of Aashrayam made the vote of thanks address.

Before the Inaugural function and Arangettam: All the participants and artists met at from fort maidan at 2 PM. All the artists and volunteers were made in to groups with distinctive traditional names such as "Nanthuni, thayyam, thira, thdi, kaithola, vattamdi, polika, kurunkuzali, pallivalu. By 2.40PM the guests and selected artists made the flower offer in front of "Martyr pillar". With colourful flag of ceremony by Mr.V.C.Kabeer (Ex-minister), a Procession started with all the participants moving round the Tippu's fort reached "Arangettam" Stage at Raappadi at 3.10 PM. After having cool drinks offered by the sponsors, accepting all the natural conditions – Shining sun and heat over the head, the artists managed to accommodate with the respective space available in team. By that time Arangettam was announced. The Arangettam stage was the audience gallery as there was no other space to accommodate in the inaugural stage! Once the arangettam was over, the children from distant places were taken back to their respective institutions from 4.30 PM onwards. The same place was then replaced by the public of palakkad town. Any way all the time the gallery was overflowing with either artists or the viewers.

After the Arangettam: Special Group performances from various schools and colleges were a special and unique attraction to the viewers with its variety and presentation from the heart. 13 different song and some dance performance was made by different school college team and individuals. It was full of bonding the relation ship among human beings and with the nature. After that a team professional artists continued the session by dedicating each song to those who supported this great venture. The songs were dedicated to even government agencies such as Nehru Yuva Kendra, Kerala State Biodiversity board and to Wildlife Protection Society of India & Art of Living. The whole program extended up to 7.30 PM.

No complaint or problems were reported anything about the function. The entire program was done by collecting small donations and sponsorships. The costs for traveling to the artists including children were met at their own ways. The risk element was taken either by the Schools or by the parents.

Organiser: Aaahrayam Rural Development Society, Reg.No. TC.13/2006, Shaji complex, Cheerani Road, Kollengode, Palakkad, Kerala, India. PIN- 678506.

Leadership: Mr.Ashok Nemmara, Secretary, Aashrayam - team leader, Mr. S.Guruvayurappan, Co-ordinator, Aashrayam, Mr.Janardhanan Puthusseri, (Recieved Scholership and Felloship for Folk Arts from Government of India), Folk song Trainer, Aashrayam. Mr.Vivesh Vithnasseri, Mr.K.Radhakrishnan, Mr. Satheesh Elevancheri, Mr.Anilkumar, Mr.Prabhuladas. Mr. Iyyangoge Sridharan, Program patron was very active throughout the training program. In addition this about 70 volunteers worked hard for the Arangettam.

Background: With the aim of Protecting and promoting the good life styles which were followed by generation through varied culture and traditions, a training program was designed by the Aashrayam team a year back in which concentrated in promoting Folk songs which is still part and parcel of the rural village communities but is facing the threat of extinction in various communities. Such cultural and traditional ways of life directly or indirectly contributed a lot to have a unity among the diverse society lived together. As now a day, the love and relationships became weaker than ever before in the history of Kerala.

As Aashrayam is an organization with a team of voluntary youths working in different fields, or students having a vision of sustainable living with the nature, took the initiative and responsibility to reinstate the same in the society. As Folk arts, 'ways and mores' of life is one way of attaining the goal of sustainability and happiness in the society, we selected to promote folk songs to the younger generation 'hand in hand' with the current educational system of practice.

Setting this as an aim, Aashrayam team planned to conduct such an event. Since August 2008 – Onam holidays - training to the participants were made in their respective institutions after their routine teaching timings. Before that, 62 educational institutions which are nearby to Aashrayam Office were selected with the consent of the concerned authority. And planned training timings and further steps. About 40 educational institutions were ready to promote the program.

In the selected groups, over 100 folk songs of kerala, about 7 musical instruments such as Udukku, Pulluvorkudam, Thappu, thudi, oonavillu, Nanthuni and Para were trained to selected students. Folk dances such as Thumbithullal, Sargamthullal, Mayilattom, Kanyarkali, Karakattm, Karinkaliyattom and vattamdi were taught to some other selected students.In addition to that, the learning methods and voice modulations trainings – Sadhaka kriya -were made. Mr. Ramassery Ramankutty and Mr.Mullakkal Kishnan Kutty were servicing as teachers to the Training program. In between the training programs, many eminent socio-cultural-literary leaders such as Maha kavi Akitham, Sukumar Ahikkode, Film actor Mr.Devan visited and wished

Supportive Agencies: Kerala State Biodiversity Board, and Nehru Yuva Kendra, Wildlife Protection Society of India became part of contributing Financial Assistance as the theme and motive of the training is to inculcate a value added education in terms of promoting social harmony, protecting wildlife and the judicious use of Natural Resources as the songs motivate Love, co-operation and harmony to live with the nature.

Thank you very much for your co-operation and contribution to promote such programs.

With love and best wishes,

For Aashrayam team,


S.Guruvayurappan, Ashok Nemmara,
Co-ordinator, Aashrayam; Secretary, Aahrayam
Phone: 0 944 77 00 321 Phone: 0 934 99 43 941

Vivesh Vithnasseri, Radhakrishnan.K
Financial Fecilitator, Aashrayam Vice President, Aashrayam.
Phone: 0 944 78 79 188 Phone: 0 924 99 74 882

E-Mail: aashrayamindia@gmail.com Visit: http://aashrayam.blogspot.com