1/22/2016

56th State School Arts Festival: When the capital city turns a stage - The Hindu

CITIES THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Published: January 21, 2016 00:00 IST | Updated: January 21, 2016 08:40 IST
January 21, 2016

When the capital city turns a stage

P.K. Ajith Kumar

Contestants wait at VJT Hall in Thiruvananthapuram for the Mohiniyattam (HSS) competition to begin. The event got delayed following a
protest by dance teachers and parents. Photo: S. Mahinsha
On the second day of the fete, there was action on the stage and off it.
The 56th State School Arts Festival came truly alive on Wednesday. On the second day of the week-long festival, there was action across
several venues in the capital.
The action, though, was not limited just to the stage. The protest staged by a group of dance teachers and some parents at the VJT Hall, where
the Mohiniyattam competition (Higher Secondary) was held, not just delayed the event, but required the intervention of the organising
committee chairman V. Sivankutty, MLA, the Director of Public Instructions (DPI) M.S. Jaya as well as the police.
The protesters demanded that the judging panel be changed, because, they argued, it was not qualified. According to them, one of the judges
was on the panel at the district level arts festival, and therefore, not qualified to be present at the State festival.
They even threatened that the students would not perform unless the panel was reconstituted. But, nothing of the sort happened, as all the
contestants danced. The DPI, however, assured the protesters that their allegations would be looked into and necessary action would be
taken. As for the action on the stage, the highlights of the day included Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Thiruvathirakkali, Kathakali and
Panchavadyam.
There could not have been complaints about the food, a sumptuous sadya , which was served at the Government Police Training College. We
served food to over 12,000 people this afternoon, said Vattappara Anil Kumar, the convenor of the food committee. That was more than
what we were expecting, and we had to cook more. But, we could serve food to everyone that came to the dining hall.
Printable version | Jan 22, 2016 7:29:57 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/when-the-capital-city-turns-astage/article8132359.ece
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