Thiruvananthapuram: The five-day Ashtamudi Water Gate Music Festival, bringing together Kollam’s scenic water landscapes, musical diversity and cultural heritage, will be held from Oct 7 to 11 at Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex in Kollam.The festival is being organised by the department of culture as part of the state govt’s 100-day action programme, said culture minister P C Vishnunadh at a news conference on Tuesday. Music programmes will begin at 7pm every day.Conceived around the theme ‘Musical Ecology – Water’, the festival seeks to create a distinctive cultural experience by bringing together the natural setting of Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam’s cultural heritage and diverse musical traditions.Prominent musical groups and artistes from different parts of the country will perform at the festival. The line-up includes Manganiyar Seduction, Indian Ocean, Hamsi & Band, Shanka Tribe and Araka Vyooham.The festival aims to create a new cultural space where Ashtamudi’s waters and diverse musical traditions converge, offering music lovers an experience that blends traditional and contemporary forms.As part of the festival, films related to music will also be screened every day from 2pm to 4pm. The screenings will be organised by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.Another objective of the festival is to transform the Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex into a more vibrant public cultural space and strengthen its role as one of Kollam’s major cultural centres.Preparations are progressing with the cooperation of the department of culture, district administration, the tourism department, and various other govt departments and institutions.The festival, which seeks to combine Ashtamudi’s natural beauty, Kollam’s cultural heritage and musical diversity, is expected to add a new chapter to the cultural landscape of Kollam. The minister invited music lovers, artistes, cultural activists and public to attend the festival.
