Kerala's Republic Day parade featured an all-female tableau

By: WE Staff | Friday, 27 January 2023

On 74th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path, the theme of the tableaus of various states and armies was dominated by the empowerment of women.

Kerala is one of the states that will have a tableau shown at the Republic Day parade - on January 26 this year. "Narishakthi and the folk culture that contributed to woman empowerment" will be highlighted. The tableau will feature the Irula dance of the Attappadi tribal women, Shringarimelam from Kannur, and sculptures representing Nanchiamma and Karthyayani Amma, who received the best performer honor and indeed the Narishakthi award, respectively.

The 24-member tableau, which is made up entirely of women, will also highlight the work done by regional groups of women that laid the road for social advancement. "The statue of Nanchiamma, who won a national award, will be represented on the trailer side," said Sini K Thomas, group leader and nodal commissioner of police of the tableau. "The statue of Karthyayani amma, who carried a literacy inspection with high marks at the year-old of 96 and who was also the awardee of the Narishakthi Award, will be expressed on the tractor side."

"A mother and daughter team will do the kalarippayattu, while a total of 12 Kudumbashree women from Kannur will execute the shingarimelam. The Irula song will be performed along both sides of the state's tableau, which will be staged in the shape of an "uru" from Beypore. The kalarippayattu performance will take place ahead of the float, and Shingarimelam will be given on the street, explained Sini.

She continued by saying that it was decided not to bring women older than 60 years due to the unfavorable weather in New Delhi. Kartyayani Amma and Nanchiamma won't be able to attend the event as a result.

"For the previous ten days, we have been practicing on a tractor. Eight Adivasi women from Attappadi who are also members of the Kala Sangham will perform in a recorded song of Nanjiamma, according to choreographer S Pazhaniswamy from New Delhi.

B Shobha, U K Shakunthala, B Rani, K Pushpa, Sarojini, L Rekha, Vijaya, and L Gowri are the eight women who would perform the Irula dance, according to Pazhaniswamy. The tableau was created by Roy Joseph.