Panchayat/ Municipality/ Parakkadavu Panchayat Corporation LOCATION District Ernakulam Nearest Town/ Royal Motors – 700 m Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus statio Moozhikulam Bus Stop – 750 m Nearest Railway Angamaly Railway Station – 9.8 Km statio Aluva Railway Station – 15.2 Km ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 12 Km Nepathya Centre for Excellence in Koodiyattam Nepathya Koothambalam Moozhikulam-Ambalamuri Road Kurumassery, Aluva Ernakulam – 683579 CONTACT Phone 1: +91-9447209421 Phone 2: +91-7034243436 Email: [email protected] DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME April – May (to be advised) Annual 4-5 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Gurusmarana is a popular Koodiyattam Festival organized in memory of late Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar by the Nepathya Centre for Excellence in Koodiyattam. Also known as the Moozhikulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Koodiyattam Festival, the event is a tribute to the Koodiyattam maestro. A prodigy who performed the entire Ramayana Prabandha within 123 days, he was instrumental in staging the complete version of ‘Ashcharyachoodamani’. He developed a distinctive style of presenting Purusharthavarnam and Prabandhakoothu on a strong traditional foothold. Koodiyattam or Kuttiyattam is a classical theatrical art form indigenous to Kerala and conferred heritage status by UNESCO. International Above 1000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) The Sanskrit theatrical art form is presented by eminent artists who have excelled in the classical representation of Memorial Talk mythical stories. Legendary tales associated with Hindu Padakam mythology are presented. Padakam, Nangiarkoothu, Nangiarkoothu Chakyarkoothu, Koodiyattam and Mizhavu Melam are held Chakyarkoothu as part of the Moozhikulam Kochukuttan Chakyar Koodiyattam Koodiyattam Festival. A commemorative talk is held on a Mizhavu Melam topic relevant to the art form. The performances are magnificently staged with traditional lighting in harmony with the beats of the Mizhavu drummers..