Legend of Unniyarcha goes global as Kerala women retell the warrior’s tale in Scotland
Kochi: In a rare show of cultural exchange, the legend of Unniyarcha, an icon of powerful women from Kerala’s ‘Vadakkanpattu’ folklore came alive at the Hindu Temple of Scotland recently. The story of the warrior woman, who excelled in the martial arts of Kalarippayattu along with her contemporary
Kochi: In a rare show of cultural exchange, the legend of Unniyarcha, an icon of powerful women from Kerala’s ‘Vadakkanpattu’ folklore came alive at the Hindu Temple of Scotland recently. The story of the warrior woman, who excelled in the martial arts of Kalarippayattu along with her contemporary
Kochi: In a rare show of cultural exchange, the legend of Unniyarcha, an icon of powerful women from Kerala’s ‘Vadakkanpattu’ folklore came alive at the Hindu Temple of Scotland recently. The story of the warrior woman, who excelled in the martial arts of Kalarippayattu along with her contemporary
Kochi: In a rare show of cultural exchange, the legend of Unniyarcha, an icon of powerful women from Kerala’s ‘Vadakkanpattu’ folklore came alive at the Hindu Temple of Scotland recently. The story of the warrior woman, who excelled in the martial arts of Kalarippayattu along with her contemporary male fighters, was retold in a dance performance held as part of the Scottish Interfaith Week celebrations. Themed 'Discovering Hindu Temple Rituals and Indian Cultural Heritage,' the event attracted a diverse audience eager to explore the rich traditions of India.
The performance blended classical dance with a demonstration of Kalaripayattu. Conceptualised and scripted by Parvathy Sreedevi, the narrative came alive with her portrayal of Unniyarcha, accompanied by co-performers Mithu Das and Jeffi Joshi. The performance artfully combined Mohiniyattam, Kathakali-inspired hand gestures, and the powerful postures of Kalaripayattu, vividly expressing emotions such as karunam (sadness), roudhram (anger), and veeram (bravery).
Asked why did she choose the theme for the performance, Parvathy, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, said for long she wanted to share Unniyarcha’s story with a global audience. “The theme is something I had in my mind from a long time so that I could share the timeless tale of Unniyarcha with a global audience, weaving together the rich traditions of Kerala's classical arts. Through this fusion of Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Kalaripayattu, I aim to inspire cross-cultural appreciation and understanding," said Parvathy who holds a Master degree in Human Rights and International Politics from the University of Glasgow.
“This is a rare opportunity to witness such authentic South Indian performances in the UK, especially from Kerala. Most Indian classical performances here are dominated by Bharatanatyam, making this event truly special,” said Mayukh Devadas, a research scholar at the University of Glasgow, who attended the event.
Other cultural highlights of the program included a discussion on Ayurveda led by Avinash Lago, a member of Scottish Interfaith; Edakka performance by Ranjith Sankar Sankaranarayanan, an associate lecturer in Glasgow hailing from Chelakkara; and a yoga demonstration by instructor Apoorva.
Amit Chaudhary, Vice Consul from the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh; Michael Shanks, MP for Rutherglen; and representatives from Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow were among those who attended the event. Scottish Interfaith Week, celebrated annually, fosters cultural exchange and unity. This dynamic event set the tone for the celebrations, exemplifying the power of art, heritage, and spirituality to bring diverse communities together.