'Kalaripayattu' enthrals people at Craft Mela

‘Kalaripayattu’, a martial art form of Kerala, performed by the skilled artistes during the Craft Mela at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana Kodagu Vidyalaya in Madikeri on Saturday, mesmerized the audience.

Kalaripayattu is an art form which is learnt by students under ‘Gurukula’ system.

The martial art’s speciality is that it includes the usage of weapons. Two people with swords fight each other without wearing any armour.

The art form was performed by the students of Vallabhat centre of Chalkad village near Guruvayur in Kerala.

Defence tactics are the highlighting feature of Kalaripayattu. Even when a rival is unarmed, he is trained to defend himself with bare hands. All these tricks were performed during the programme.

The defence mechanism of Kalaripayattu also teaches the use of various weapons such as a sickle, knife and also sticks.

However, Kalaripayattu is not used to attack someone. It is used as a defence technique. Especially, women can protect themselves in troublesome situations if they get acquainted with the art form, said Vallabhat centre head Krishna Das. For some, Kalaripayattu is also a way of life, he added.

Krishna Das said that the practice of Kalaripayattu helps to maintain good health. The martial art of Kerala has now become popular across the country.

The cool weather of Kodagu is well suited for the practice of Kalaripayattu, he added.

A total of 12 students of the centre performed Kalaripayattu on the occasion.