Kerala’s Solar-Powered Boat Safari Revives Vanishing Folk Traditions on Pathiramanal Island

As passengers step onto Pathiramanal Island, they enter a world showcasing the state’s heritage through a one-hour cultural programme titled Folk Fiesta. The daily performance is organised by the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and provides a platform for traditional art forms that are gradually disappearing.

Hosted inside an eco-friendly amphitheatre made using local bamboo and grass, the programme allows tourists to experience rare cultural performances directly rather than learning about them only through books or records. The performances change every day and include the energetic movements of Kalaripayattu martial arts, masked characters based on folklore traditions, and storytelling songs such as Villadichan Pattu.

The cultural showcase also features Theyyam, Thira, Nagakali Thira, a masked performance inspired by Sri Lanka’s Kolam dance, and Parunthattom, a folk song performed with dancers dressed as eagles. The performance is rooted in protest songs historically sung by enslaved communities in Changanassery.

“Parunthattom is based on a folk song, and we also present the visual performance by dressing like the eagle,” said R Jayakumar, programme director of IPTA Nattarangu, the organisation’s folklore repertoire group. Kalaripayattu is also performed along with acts by Ottamthullal artists including Mannancherry Desan and Marutturvattom Kannan.

“These unique art forms are fading away, and this project helps save them,” Jayakumar said.

IPTA Nattarangu specialises in folklore performances and folk musical theatre, with around 40 artists participating in its programmes. Most of these artists depend on daily labour, fishing, or coir-making work for their livelihood. The initiative has provided them with an opportunity to transform their artistic skills into a stable source of income.

“Giving them a place to turn their natural talents into a steady job is a wonderful thing,” Jayakumar added.

For folk singers such as Bijimol, who has been performing since childhood, the Kuttanad Safari has created new opportunities. “Even during the slow travel months between May and August, we now have a steady place to perform and earn a living,” she said.

The Pathiramanal Island experience extends beyond cultural performances, with the Muhamma Panchayat involving local residents in showcasing their traditional skills and daily activities to visitors.

Tourists interact with local artisans including Anandavally, Lathika, and Omana, who demonstrate the process of making traditional mats from soaked coconut husks and spinning coir ropes by hand. Visitors are also encouraged to try these activities themselves and experience the skill required for these traditional crafts.

“Many visitors have never seen these traditional trades before,” Anandavally said. She and her companions had previously lived on Pathiramanal Island before moving to Kayappuram near Muhamma.

“For us, this has opened a new way to make a living. It is also a chance to visit the island where we once lived. No one stays here now,” she said.

The experience continues with villagers collecting black clams directly from Vembanad Lake and preparing them for tourists on the spot. With tickets priced at Rs 1,000, the Kuttanad Safari offers a premium backwater tourism experience while ensuring that local communities benefit financially.

As the boat returns to the Alappuzha jetty during sunset over Vembanad Lake, visitors leave with a deeper connection to Kerala’s natural landscape and cultural heritage.

“The main attraction of the Kuttanad Safari is the display of traditional folk arts at Pathiramanal Island, which is a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. We have so far conducted 40 trips, catering to 2,657 passengers and earning revenue of Rs 25.55 lakh,” said Sujith M, traffic superintendent of the State Water Transport Department.

The initiative has emerged as a significant effort to preserve Kerala’s disappearing folk traditions while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local artists and residents through responsible tourism