School in Keralam’s Kollam swaps routine Onam dances for Seethakali
A government school in Kollam, Kerala, replaced standard Onam dance performances with a traditional Seethakali folk drama. The initiative aimed to reconnect students with local heritage and involved them performing alongside professional folk artists.
Why it matters
This highlights efforts to preserve endangered traditional art forms through community-led educational initiatives.
Breaking away from the routine dance numbers and popular folk performances that typically dominate Onam celebrations in schools, Prakkulam Government L.P. School in Kollam set a unique precedent by hosting a traditional Seethakali performance.
A traditional folk dance-drama from Kollam, this centuries-old art form had nearly gone extinct in the 1980s before a major community-led revival in 2017. Organised to foster cultural awareness and respect for the State’s native art forms among students, the event turned into an immersive cultural experience for the them. Adding a special charm to the day, two students from the school also joined the Perinad Seethakali Sangham on stage to perform alongside seasoned artists.
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