The performance was staged during a banquet hosted by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Hotel Leela Raviz in Kovalam, where the Sheikh Sultan and his delegation stayed.Thiruvananthapuram: Artistes, who performed Kerala art forms during the visit of UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, have received an unexpected gift from him. Sultan has handed over Rs 12 lakh to the Kerala government as a cash reward to the artistes.
The performance was staged during a banquet hosted by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Hotel Leela Raviz in Kovalam, where the Sultan and his delegation stayed. The show organized by the Kerala tourism department included Kadhakali, Mohiniyattam, Oppana and Margamkali. The Sultan, who enjoyed the hour-long presentation entirely, also hailed the art fraternity in Kerala that transcended religious barriers.
Minutes after the performance, the Sharjah ruler's protocol officer met the state government authorities and announced the award. He told them to divide the money equally among the nearly 60 artistes of the show. The artistes were in for a surprise as the gift money was higher than what the government had offered them.
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