| Historical Background | ||||
| Kalari Folk Cultural Centre, was started in 1994 as one of the units of the Kottar Diocesan Commission for Social Communications, by the late Bishop Leon A. Tharmaraj. The Founder and Director of the Centre is Rev. Dr. Vincent B.Wilson, who with his special charism and expertise started his cultural journey already in 1986 with “Vizhipor Cultural Troupe”and “Hassmi Cultural Troupe” which finally blossomed as Kalari, after his Ph D on ‘Christian Folk Drama’. In the initial years, Kalari conducted systematic Folk Arts and Street Theatre Training programmes together with Sakthi Centre, Dindigul, besides performing cultural programmes in the District and outside. These activities created a great impact by increasing the interest in Folk Art forms. Through Cultural Tours, Cultural Nights and Folk Art Trainings social awareness was created among people. In the latter years Kalari became a full-fledged Institute with four departments viz. Cultural Troupe, Training Department, Research Department and Publications Department. In 2001 -2002 Rev. Dr. Patrick Gnanapragasam was the Director of Kalari and in 2002, Fr. Amaladas Densingh was joint Director of Kalari. Number of Trainings were conducted in schools, colleges, Parishes and NGOs. This created a great impact in the Diocese and the whole region. More than 1000 Street Plays and 500 Stage Programmes were performed. These earned a special name for Kalari. The publications and audio video productions were greatly appreciated in the whole region. ‘Adavu Katti Aada’, a Text book for Folk Dances by Dr. Vincent B. Wilson was given an award for the best book in Folklore in 2004, by the Tamil Nadu Government. Kalari became the only Centre totally dedicated to Folk Media in the Catholic Church in India. Kalari has been raised to the status of Regional Centre for Folk Media, by the Bishop's of Tamil Nadu. Therefore Kalari is given the responsibility of coordinating the folk communication in all the dioceses of Tamil Nadu. This requires a convenient infrastructure and qualified staff besides setting up of the centre in an accessible place. Our Bishop Most Rev. Peter Remigius is helping to establish a new infrastructure in Rajavoor, 12 KM from Nagercoil to meet these needs. |
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HISTORICAL
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