Dear list,

We are delighted to inform you that Amrita Darshanam — International Centre for Spiritual Studies, in association with Nārivāda, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), is organizing a three-day national seminar on “Śakti Worship in India” from September 21 to 23, 2018 at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala.

More than 25 scholars of renown will deliver invited lectures on the different aspects of śakti worship in India. During the course of the seminar, two traditional rituals will be performed: Paḍayani and Kalamezhuthu Pattu. 

Paḍayani is a masked performance of an ancient ritual performed to appease the fierce Bhadrakāli after she kills Dāruka. According to the legend, it was first performed by Śiva’s bhūtagaṇa-s in order to pacify her anger which could, otherwise, destroy the worlds. It is unique to central Kerala — particularly popular in the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. 

It will be elaborately performed in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, on 21 September 2018 by traditional artists (Making of kollams (masks) will be done throughout the day. Performance starts late evening, and will continue into the wee hours of the morning)

Kalamezhuthu is a temple ritual that has three stages — (a) drawing of the kalam, (b) worshiping of the kalam with lights called thiri uzhichil, and (c) erasing of the kalam maykkal.  

It will performed in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, on 23 September 2018 (Drawing of kalam will start on the evening of 22/9/18; the ritual will commence on the morning of 23/9/18, and will be completed in 12 hours) 

Kindly refer to the brochure attached. 

To register, visit: www.amrita.edu/ad/sswi

With best wishes,

Manjushree Hegde,

Assistant Professor, 

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,

Coimbatore.