Kerala's rich tapestry of folk and indigenous art forms is drawing wider audiences during the Onam Tourism Week celebrations, with the state Tourism Department placing special emphasis on traditional performances at venues across the state from 24 to 30 August. The weeklong festival, centred at Nishagandhi in Thiruvananthapuram, is presenting a different traditional art form each day.

Art Forms on Display

The lineup at Nishagandhi spans a broad spectrum of Kerala's performance heritage — Tholpavakoothu, Padayani, Arjuna Nirtham, Poothanum Thirayum, Theyyam, Ottamthullal, Sarppappattu, Duffmutt, Mudiyettu, and Oppana are among the performances being staged. Each of these forms weaves together music, elaborate costuming, ritual, and oral tradition — many rooted in the state's mythology and district-specific histories.

What the Government Said

Kerala Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh described traditional art forms as a cornerstone of the state's cultural tourism offering. 'These art forms bring together music, costumes, performance and traditions,' he said, adding that both the Tourism and Cultural departments were committed to taking these traditions to a broader audience. He noted that each of Kerala's districts carries at least two or three indigenous art forms, each connected to local history, mythology, and community life.

Voices from the Practitioners

Padma Shri awardee and Tholpavakoothu exponent Ramachandra Pulavar, who led the Maveli Charitham Tholpavakoothu performance at Nishagandhi, welcomed the initiative, saying traditional artists needed larger platforms to reach new audiences. He argued that language need not remain a significant barrier, pointing to digital translation tools as a means of explaining performance techniques and narratives to visitors from different regions and countries. Pulavar himself has experimented with diverse storylines — including tales of Mahabali, Jesus Christ, and the origin of Kerala. He also recalled how filmmaker G Aravindan's visit to his home, and a puppet of Goddess Gangalekshmi, inspired the logo of the International Film Festival of Kerala.

For 72-year-old Poothanu Thira practitioner K M Unni Krishnan — who began learning the art at the age of eight and now runs the Raman Smaraka Thira Poothana Sangam — platforms such as the Onam Tourism Week are vital for both preservation and community livelihood. Padayani veteran B Suresh Kumar noted that a single performance can generate income for around 20 artists, underscoring the direct economic stakes of government-supported cultural events.

Calls for Structural Support

Practitioners used the occasion to press for longer-term institutional backing. B Suresh Kumar proposed a dedicated festival exclusively for Kerala's traditional art forms, bringing practitioners together to chart pathways for development and preservation. Arjuna Nirtham exponent Kurichi Nadeshan called for increased financial support to the Kerala Folklore Academy, arguing that sustained funding is essential to protect the state's artistic heritage from gradual erosion.

What Comes Next

The Onam Tourism Week concludes on Sunday, 30 August, bringing Kerala's classical, folk, and ethnic traditions before a wider audience that includes domestic and international tourists. The event signals a growing policy intent to position cultural heritage — not just backwaters and hill stations — as a driver of Kerala's tourism economy.