Craft Mela 2019 opens with martial arts

The Craft Mela 2019, organised by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kodagu Vidyalaya, was inaugurated on Saturday with a demonstration of Kalaripayattu of Kerala.

The presentation of Kalaripayattu by artistes from Vallabhat Kala Kendra from Guruvayur in Kerala enthralled the audience.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan administrative board vice president K P Uthappa, who spoke at the inaugural of the mela, said, “It is an opportunity for students of Kodagu district to get trained in various art forms. The students should make use of the opportunities and guide other students as well.”

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan president K S Devaiah said that the workshops, held as a part of the Crafts Mela, have received good response. “Art experts of international fame will train the children in the district,” he added.

Art forms

Trainers have been teaching over 800 students from different parts of the district in various art forms as a part of the Craft Mela till Monday.

Artistes Vyjayanthi Kashi will train the students in dance. Srinivas Asthan will train in Yakshagana; Nageshwar from Andhra Pradesh in making Cherial masks in clay; Ishwar Nayak from Sagara in Chittara art; Venkataraman Singh Shyam in Ghonda art; Basanthi from Ballari in embroidery; Manjunath and Nagaraj from Mysuru in music; Revanna in Kamsale and Krishnadas in Kalaripayattu.

Artistes Vyjayanthi Kashi and Prathiksha Kashi will present a Kuchipudi recital on March 31 between 6.30 pm and 8 pm.

A variety of artefacts will be exhibited at the mela.