Ponniyathangam festival draws crowds, praise from Chief Minister

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan witnessed high-voltage Kalaripayattu performances at the Ponniyathangam festival on Thursday, spending over half an hour engrossed in martial arts demonstrations that captivated a packed audience.

The fourth day of the festival saw galleries filled to capacity as practitioners presented swift, fiery sequences featuring the Urumi, sword and shield, short sticks, fireball routines and combat drills. The Chief Minister watched the performances keenly from the stage, drawing applause from spectators.

Inaugurating the cultural meet held as part of the Ponniyathangam celebrations, Mr. Vijayan said the festival had already earned wide public acceptance. He noted that attendance had been rising each year and expressed confidence that the event would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.

Assembly Speaker A. N. Shamseer presided over the function. The Chief Minister also launched a game model on Ponniyathangam, jointly developed by Thalassery Engineering College and the Kerala Professional Network.

Earlier, martial arts demonstrations were staged by the Ponniyathangam Kathirur Gurukul Memorial Kalari, Koyilandy Al-Mubarak Kalari and the Dubai Kalari Club. The programme also featured a folk dance competition and other performances, including a martial art display from Thang Aham Yanab on a separate stage.

More than 33 selected participants from across the country, attending as part of the Kerala Youth Leadership Academy, witnessed the festival. M. Gnaneshwar from Telangana said he was mesmerised by the event, which showcased the skill and heritage of Kerala’s traditional martial art. Biraja Mishra from Odisha said the active participation of people across age groups and communities, including Muslims, was striking. “It is unlike what we see in some other parts of the country. It reflects the cultural richness and secular outlook of the people here,” he said.

Live performances by Sachin Warrier and Libin Scaria added to the evening’s cultural line-up. Former Kerala Folklore Academy vice-chairman K. Kunhiraman, Kathirur grama panchayat president P. P. Sujaya, Eranholi grama panchayat president and other organisers attended the event.