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Explore our archive of rare stories from different corridors of cultural discourse across craft, oral and performance traditions, visual culture and more.
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Pathonam | Many Stories of Onam | An ARPO Original Documentary
What if the Onam we know is only one version of the story? Pathonam looks beyond the familiar and popular image of Onam that we know of pookalams, kasavu, sadhya and the story of Mahabali to explore the many ways Onam has been celebrated across Kerala. From Onapottan and Thuyilunarthupattu to Onathallu, Onavillu, Pulikali and Vallam Kali, this documentary traces the traditions, memories and histories that have shaped Onam and asks how one festival came to be understood throug
Chakkupallam’s Paliya Ulsavam: Tradition, Adaptation, and Collective Faith
At Chakkupallam in Idukki, the Paliyar community comes together each April to celebrate Paliya Ulsavam, their annual harvest-season festival at their newly built Sree Badrakaliyamman Temple.
Paliya Nritham : Dance, Devotion & Daily Life
Paliya Nritham, a dance form practiced by the Paliya community in Kerala in their settlement at Kumali, is an example on how the community builds livelihood by upholding their cultural practice and identity. Tucked away from the hectic tourist spots of Thekkady, Vellayankaani Paliya Parambaragatha Nritham, a team of 20 + enthusiastic individuals from Paliyakudi, Kumily practices their dance form of Paliya Nritham to their set of songs with various traditional instruments. He
Meenoottu : Fish, Prophecy & The Mannan King
Each year, the Mannan tribal community gathers for Meenoottu—a sacred river-based ritual that seeks protection from disease and blessings for the entire community. Held just three days after their major cultural celebration Kaalayoottu, Meenoottu is more than a ritual. It’s a spiritual gathering and an ecological dialogue rolled into one. Once performed across various sub-kingdoms of the Mannan region, Meenoottu is now practiced only at Kozhimala and Kumily. WATCH EPISODE ON
Mannan Koothu : The Living Tradition of a Tribal Dance in Kerala
Among the Mannan tribal community of Kerala, a rich cultural tradition continues to beat to the rhythms of drums and the chants of ancient tales. This is Mannan Koothu, a traditional dance-drama that weaves storytelling, music, and ritual into a unique form of cultural expression. At its heart lies the retelling of the legendary Kannaki - Kovalan saga, a story rooted in Tamil Sangam literature but uniquely adapted by the Mannan people into their own version of the epic. WATCH
Kalaavoottu: A Festival of Togetherness, Tribute, and Tradition
In Kerala, Mannan community comes together each year to celebrate Kalaavoottu — also known as Kalaayoottu — a vibrant festival that blends age-old traditions, traditional music, dance, and rituals. Held during the Malayalam months of Makaram and Kumbham, this celebration is much more than just a festival — it’s a time of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal. The name Kalaavoottu is derived from the words Kaalam (meaning a year or season) and Oottu (meaning feast), it symbolize
Mannan Elders Revisit Ancestral Histories in Participatory Dialogue at Mazhuvadi
May 11, 2025 — Mazhuvadi, Kanjikuzhi In the serene mountain valley of Mazhuvadi, Idukki district, a remarkable gathering unfolded on 11th May 2025. Elders from the Mannan community came together in a rare participatory dialogue — an event that bridged memory, oral tradition, and collective inquiry. At the forefront of the gathering were Ayyapan, Rajappan & Kumaran, senior members from the Mannan community, who expressed joy at the opportunity to rekindle internal dialogue and
Payayil Iruthal: A Ritual of Grief, Memory, and Healing in the MannanCommunity
Among the many rich and diverse traditions of Mannan community of Kerala, Payayil Iruthal (also Payel Iruthal) stands out as a deeply humane and spiritually resonant mourning ritual. This unique practice honours the memory of a deceased spouse and provides the surviving partner a sacred space for remembrance, grief, and eventual healing. A Ritual Spanning 7 long days Payayil Iruthal is traditionally observed for three consecutive years following the death of an individual. Ea
50 years of Oru Desathinte Katha |Docu Series
Oru Desathinte Katha (ഒരു ദേശത്തിന്റെ കഥ) by S.K Pottekkatt is the novel which brought the second Jnanpith Award to Kerala. One whose...
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