Kalarippayattu at the Lionel Wendt

On the occasion of the 64th Republic day celebrations of India, a performance of Kalarippayattu, a martial art form from Kerala has been organized at 6.15 pm on January 25 at the Lionel Wendt Auditorium.

The Kalarippatyattu troupe led by Gurukkal R Ramachandran Nair accompanied by the Madhava Madam CVN Kalari Sangam will be showcasing an awesome performance with real weapons in the traditional style. Minister for Cultural Affairs and the Arts, T B Ekanyake will be the Chief Guest and High Commissioner of India, Ashok K Kantha, will preside over the function.

Kalarippayattu, is one of the oldest living traditions of martial training in the world, having its roots in the Dhanurveda, the ancient Indian science of warfare. Martial training and self-disciplining through a ritualistic and spiritual process of learning is synthesized in the Kalarippayattu tradition that found its roots in Kerala, the southernmost state of India. Gurukkal Ramachandran Nair learnt the art of Kalrippayattu at the age of 14 under the martial art experts like late Velayudhan Nair Gurukkal, late Govindankutty Gurukkal and Balan Nair Gurukkal.

Along with Kalarippayattu, he also learnt the traditional Ayurvedic cum Siddha treatment and Marma chikilsa. Marma Chikilsa is a specialized branch of Ayurvedic treatment and is also an integral part of Kalarippayattu. In 1969 he ventured to set up his own institution named Madhava Madom C.V.N Kalari at his village at Kollamkode. He also started a sister concern at Pappanamcode in Trivandrum, Kerala, to broaden his teachings to aspiring cosmopolitan people as well as those from overseas countries.

The troupe’s visit is sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Arts, Government of Sri Lanka. In addition to the Colombo performance the troupe will be performing at 5 pm on January 28 at Hindu Cultural Hall, Kandy and at 6.30 pm on January 31 at Veerasingam Hall, Jaffna. For the Cololmbo performance limited number of invitation cards is available at the Indian Cultural Centre, No.16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo - 7.

For further details please contact the Indian Cultural Centre on telephone no: 2684698 or Email: [email protected]