20 January was a memorable occasion for residents of Garikkiyur in the Aracode Region. This day marked the inauguration of Porivarai, a community foundation that emerged while working on traditional knowledge associated with music and musical instrumentation. A group that had formed three years ago has made few efforts at creating a space dedicated to discussions around music and knowledge, as well as their connection to nature.
Over the last year, a group of 20 youth has come together to build a formal workshop. This space will be utilized for making instruments and other crafts using many kinds of bamboo that they’ve been exploring over the lockdown period. To see this community foundation progress with so much vigour and creativity has been gratifying to observe for all of us at Keystone.
The event was organised to celebrate the setting up of their workshop, teaching space as well as a community space. Residents from six surrounding villages attended the event and the housewarming was followed by traditional games and music. It was a beautiful day to watch so many folks from indigenous communities come together and celebrate a fundamental social thread – music.
