Kerala Folklore Academy

 Kerala Folklore Academy

   Kerala Folklore Akademi, an independent center for cultural affairs, was established on 28 june 1995. The main objective of the akademi is to promote and project the traditional art forms of Kerala. Kerala Folklore Akademi, an autonomours center for cultural affairs, is located in Kannur. Kannur District, Kerala.The institution was constituted by the Goverment of Kerala and works under the Cultural Affairs Department, Goverment of Kerala.
      The institution provides financial assistance of folk artists.Economic aid programs and academic councils are conducted to promotr the traditional Kerala art forms. The institution aims to promote and preserve the traditional art forms of Kerala. Kerala Folklore Akademi was constituted by the Goverment of Kerala on 28 June 1995 under the Cultural Affairs Department,Goverment of Kerala, Trivandrum. The Institution was formed under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration act of 1955. It began functioning on 20 January 1996.

      For those keen to follow and understand the artistic heritage during their visits to Kerala, it would be an ideal choice to drop in at The Kerala Folklore Academy, located at Chirakkal in Kannur, the northern district of Kerala.

Established in 1995, welfare of the folk artistes is the prime concern of the academy. Set up by the Government of Kerala, the academy, while ensuring the welfare of folk artistes also strives for reviving, preserving and promoting the rich folk art traditions of Kerala. The academy is located by the side of the beautiful Chirakkal Lake, which is reputedly the second largest of its kind in Asia.

The academy functions from traditionally built structure called nalukettu and presently houses a folklore library, a museum and a publication department, besides the administrative departments.

The library at The Kerala Folklore Academy features over 1000 volumes on the folk art traditions of Kerala and is one of the largest of its kind and a popular haunt of scholars and researchers in the field.

And checking out the museum at the academy, one would find a collection of over 300 precious objects of folk art, including life-size replicas of varioustheyyams and patayani, folk and tribal musical and percussion instruments, farm implements and weapons. Some of these items are used in ritual arts like Kuthurathib, Devakoothu, Chat, Poorakali, Kaliyootu, Mudiyettu, andKaniyarkali. The museum also has over 175 photographs that depict the drama of these art forms.

One of the missions of The Kerala Folklore Academy is to compile and publish books and periodicals on folklore. The academy has already brought out fourteen volumes on the culture, art and life of the people. It also brings out a quarterly journal named Poli. These publications have gone a long way to promote awareness about folk life, art and rituals among the present generation.

Objectives

   To promote the folk performing art forms of Kerala.
 To provide training for boys and girls in folk art forms.
 To record these arts scientifically and classify them categorically.
 To prepare records of folklore materials after conducting basic survey.
 To publish folklore Directory and Folklore Encyclopedia.
 To Establish folklore museum and archives. 
 To collect and publish folk stories and songs which are transmitted from generation.
 To Evolve new art forms from the traditional arts without loosing their identity.
 To Honor leading artists by giving awards and fellowships. 
 To Give awards to high quality research publications on these area.
 To Start and maintain a publication.
 To Conduct festivals in the field of folk arts.
 To Arrange performance by troupes approved by the Akademi inside and outside the state.
 To promote interstate cultural exchange program was and thereby contribute to the national 
   integration of India.
 To perform other additional functions that may be entrusted to the Akademi by the Government 
   time to time.
 To give grants and financial assistance to institutions which impart training in the folk arts.
 To Establish a Folklore library.

      Kerala has a rich tradition of Folklore. Folklore in this region is a spontaneous expression of human behavior and thoughts. Generally speaking, Folklore could be defined as the lore of the common people who had been marginalized during the reign of feudal Kings. The Keralites have their culture and lore which were mostly part of agricultural. Sowing, planting of nharu (sidling) dearing out he weeds, harvests etc are the different stages of agriculture which have their typical rituals. Numerous songs and performing arts are accompanied with them. Kanyar Kali, Padayani, Mudiyettu, Malavayiyattam, Theyyam, Kothamooriyattam, Nira, Puthari, etc. are some of the ritual folklore of Kerala. Kerala could be divided into four cultural areas: Travancore – Cochin, Central Kerala, South Malabar and North Malabar. North Malabar has its own cultural identity. It was under the rule of Kolathiris. The Kings of Kolathunadu had codified the rituals, beliefs, taboos and Folk Performing arts. Even the dates of specific fertility rituals and Folk Performances were decided by the Kolathiris in which most of them are continuing even today.The dates of Theyyam festivals are conducted as per the dates once fixed by the King. Human fertility is an important aspect of Folklore. Magical rituals were widely performed by the Keralites to get children. Most of them are practiced for barren women for fertility. The magical rituals like 'Shadkarmas' were also practiced in this region. Black magical rituals like Maranam (slaughter), Vasyam (the trick of entice others), Uchadanam (eradication) and Sthambhanam (getting obstructed) were widely influenced by the people of North Malabar.

     There was no cast distinction in the Kavus (Shrines) of North Malabar. Hindus only were permitted to enter the temples even today. But in the Kavus, the worshipping places of the castes below Brahmins were welcomed everybody irrespective of religion and caste. There are about 400 Theyyams still performed in the Kavus of North Malabar. About twenty castes perform Theyyams. All the people in the village involve in the performances of Theyyam and Poorakkali. Even muslim Theyyams are also performed. So we can definitely say that the folk culture of North Malabar is a secular one. Caste distinction is not observed during folk performances in the Kavus or open places. During British rule, Folklore is served as a vehicle for political protest. Some of the folk literature in the feudal system reflected the aspirations and protest against social oppression. The Theyyam like Pulimaranja Thondachan, Palanthayi Kannan, Chathambali Vishakandan, Thotumkara Bhagavathi etc. were the martyrs of social oppression of the local chieftains. Mappilappattu, Kolkkalippattu, Thottampattu, Poorakkalipattu, and Nattipattu, are typical examples of this kind of protest. Classical arts like Chakyarkooth, Kathakali, and semi classical art Thullal are prevalent in some places of North Malabar. But irrespective of industrialization and modernization Folk performing arts and other genres of Folklore are still alive in this are. Theyyams are performed I n the hundreds of Kavus. To an extend fertility rituals also survive here. North Kerala is still a repository of Folklores. Thousands of tourists are visiting here to witness and study the diversified culture, Folk performing arts, the simple and even the folk oriented life style and attractive folk ritual tradition.

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Courtesy : http://keralafolkloreakademy.com