1,300 dancers relive Kerala tradition in Dubai

Pooram 2017 also showcased various traditional art forms and a 'kudamaatam,' the changing of the traditional ornate parasols by mahouts sitting atop elephants.

Dubai - Clad in the traditional sari and a bright orange blouse, the women formed 14 concentric circles and gave a 20-minute performance of the traditional dance.

by Dhanusha Gokulan

Published: Fri 27 Oct 2017, 9:46 PM

Last updated: Sun 29 Oct 2017, 3:27 PM

For Dubai-based Indian national businessman Babu Sivasankaran, the first-edition of Pooram in Dubai was an event where he reminisced his childhood days of attending festivals in his hometown in Kollam, Kerala. "Pooram or festivals are a big part of our tradition. And I feel a great sense of nostalgia being part of this wonderful event," he added.
Along with Babu, several thousand people gathered at the grounds of Etisalat Academy in Muhaisnah, Dubai on Friday to celebrate Pooram 2017. An event organised to replicate the legendary Thrissur Pooram in Kerala, the first-of-its-kind event drew huge crowds to the academy grounds. Men, women and children of all ages - dressed in traditional Malayalee clothing and full of nostalgic spirit - participated in several cultural activities and dances. The festivities included retail stalls selling traditional products, such as clothes and food stuffs from Kerala.

Record-breaking performance

The highlight of the event was the record-breaking dance performance by 1,300 young and old Malayalee women, who set a new record by performing Thiruvathirakali with the largest number of participants outside India. Choreographed and executed by Malayalam actress and dancer Asha Sharath, the dance, also called Kaikottikali, was very well-received among the Pooram attendees.
Confirming the record-breaking event, Smitha Suresh, one of the organisers of the event, said: "We've broken the Middle East record today. The previous record set was in 2013, where 400 plus women danced. But today, that number has reached 1,300." The committee will send a submission to the Limca Book of Records as well.
Clad in the traditional sari and a bright orange blouse, the women formed 14 concentric circles and gave a 20-minute performance of the traditional dance. "We are extremely excited that the dance came out so well," added one of the dancers, Shubha Venu.
She said: "We've been practising in parks, homes and dance studios for a month and a half. I'm personally very excited that the dance has turned out so well. This is a big part of our culture and we're happy that we were able to showcase it here in Dubai," she added. "We are a combination of young girls, old grand mums and professionals. It was a group effort and the dance was perfectly coordinated," said another dancer Keerthi Prakash.
Pooram 2017 also showcased various traditional art forms and a 'kudamaatam,' the changing of the traditional ornate parasols by mahouts sitting atop elephants. In the absence of live elephants, the organisers arranged life-size elephant replicas. There were also several other live performances that showcased traditional dance forms.
Simi Sujeeth, a long-time Dubai resident, said: "We wish that the organisers had done a better job at organising the event as we could hardly see any of the live performances. However, the initiative is great, and we hope there are more of such events."
Another resident Prasad Palakkad drove 250km to attend the event. "I am very happy that this event has taken place. It is a great experience for the younger generation. Our culture and traditions are on full display and I'm feeling very proud today.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com