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450-woman dance enthrals to mark Kerala Day in Dubai

About 450 women have added one more superlative to Dubai’s credit by performing a traditional dance form of the south Indian state of Kerala, which is said to be the biggest such performance outside India.

Women perform the Thiruvathirakkali on Friday at the Etisalat Academy, Dubai. — KT photo by Mohammed Mustafa

The ‘Akcaf Mega Thiruvathira’ was performed at the Etisalat Academy stadium in Al Ghusais on Friday evening. The event was part of the culmination of the two-month long Onam celebrations of All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum or Akcaf, timed on Kerala’s 57th state-formation anniversary on November 1.

Rajesh Pillai, president of the forum in the UAE this year, said the present executive committee decided to organise a large-scale performance of Thiruvathirakkali as a tribute to the women of Kerala. “It is a major achievement for Akcaf in its 15 years’ history in the UAE. What started off with the participation of an estimated 250 women finally reached about 450.”

Teachers from four branches of Dubai-based Sopanam Dance and Music Training Centre were assigned to teach the dance to interested participants who poured in as groups from college alumni associations under Akcaf and other community organisations.

As word spread through the social media, more and more women joined, prompting Akcaf to arrange a 200-strong volunteering team to organise the programme, according to Biju Kassim, convenor of the organising committee.

Clad in the traditional costume of Malayali women, a two-piece off white sari called mundum neryathum with golden colour border and red blouse, the dancers took part in the nearly 10-minute-long performance with passion and pride. Jasmine flowers adorned their hair adding to the uniform look of the women moving in circles around a lit traditional lamp in a rhythmical fashion.

Nisha Rajesh, an amateur dancer, said it was a lifetime achievement for her to be part of the record performance. “It was a chance to show our patriotism in a very unique way that only we women can do.”

Women from all age groups -— ranging from 12th grade students to over 60-year-olds — took part in the mass dance.

Seethala Babu, an imports manager with a general trading company in Dubai, was one of the senior most women to dance with the youngsters. “I’m so proud that I could take part in such a wonderful event, dancing with little girls and young women at this age,” said the grandmother who is entering her sixties.

Anjali Ashwin, a professional dance teacher, said it didn’t matter that the dance was taught by teachers from another institute. “Whether we are professional or amateur dancers, this was an opportunity to show our passion towards the art form with a touch of patriotism. So I didn’t want to miss it,” she said.

Priya Dilip Kumar, an artist by profession, represented the alumni association of Vimala College. She said 42 graduates of the leading women’s college participated in the event. “The practising sessions in the last two weeks took us back to the college days. It became a platform for us to meet our old friends as well.”

M.A. Yousaffali, Managing Director of EMKE Group and Afra Al Basti, executive director of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children were the chief guests at the valedictory function held after a traditional procession comprising various art forms of Kerala and the mega dance performance which were witnessed by over 10,000 people, according to Akcaf. P. Mohan, vice-consul (Labour) at the Indian Consulate in Dubai and Indian Community Welfare Committee Convenor K. Kumar also attended the function.

The event honoured Chandralekha, a homemaker who rose to stardom after her casual singing became a YouTube sensation.

The function ended with a musical evening by national award winner singer Hariharan.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com