Stage set for school festival

Alappuzha: The curtain will go up for the 59th state school Kalolsavam here on Friday which will be shorn off its usual pomp and pageantry in the backdrop of the devastation caused by the floods.

Cycle rallies will be held instead of high-end processions to mark the beginning of the festival.

Instead of ministers, 59 students will light 59 chiraths (earthen pots) to kick off the competitions.

The education department along with the district administration has arranged 29 stages where 12,000 students will vie for honours in the three-day event.

‘Keralanatanam’ will be held at the main venue at Leo XIII HSS in the morning followed by other classical dance items, including Mohiniyattom, Bhara-thanatyam and Kuchipudi at five main venues named as Utharasw-ayamvaram (Irayimman Thampi), Mayoorasand-esham (Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuram), Chilamboli (P.K. Sarang-apani), Kalyanasouga-ndhikam (Kunchan Nam-biar) and Nithyakanyaka (Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai). Oppana competition will be held at a stage christened as Aayisha of Vayalar Ramavarma.

Sargasangeetham, also by Vayalar Ramavarma, is the venue of classical music and light music competitions.

For the 58th edition held in Thrissur, the education department had spent at least Rs 1crore. This time the expenses have been cut down to '41 lakh thanks to many service organisations and individuals who offered their services free of cost. The budget could be controlled also by cutting the duration from five to three days.

The department gave up the scholarship fund offered by the government for meritorious students and raised funds through stamp distribution. Kerala State Teachers Association (KSTA) has brought adequate quantity of vegetables and other items for food. Pandal was erected free of cost.

Most of the judges reduced their fees and accommodation charges. No rent has been sought for the halls being used as stages. The number of venues has been increased from 25 to 29 to avoid delays in the competitions. The state-level literary competition was also cancelled.

There will be separate male and female competitions in the categories like kathakali single, thullal, folk dance and mimicry.

The green pavilion is named after Hortus Malabaricus written by Hendrik van Rheede with contributions from Itty Achuthan. Arabic and Sanskrit festivals have also been organised. While 50 participants will contest in 19 items on two stages in Arabic, 300 students will contest on four stages in 14 items in the Sanskrit category.