26/08/2026
Roots and Rhythm are what props a community's identity and heritage. Deeply entrenched in the community's history, heritage, geography over generations it tells of their stories and memories brought to life along with the Rhythm that brings vibrancy to the performances. Together they are a community's celebration.
In communities the music and dance were instrumental in breaking the monotony of the days hard labour. The beats and Rhythms were seasonal depending on agricultural activities. Rhythm is thus a memory trick.
On 23rd Destination heritage in its day long celebration of folk roots and Rhythm took centre stage.
The Villu Paatu by storyteller Ms. Lavanya Prasad mesmerized the audience. Primarily folk have transformed the weapon of war- the hunting bow into a musical instrument for peace and wisdom. Taking its origins in the 15th century in the districts of Coimbatore and Pallakad.
its a 2 day festival celebrated in April where the community sings birth and death songs. Instead of shooting arrows the bow is transformed into a musical instrument where the string is struck with slender wooden rods to create rhythmic beats. Lavanya has innovated bringing the drum for a beautiful resonance.
This is a folk cultural shift of sharing art, music and knowledge. In fact Folklore is to be treated as a Indian knowledge systems. For generations communities have kept this tradition across family lines with local history incorporated.
The ritual is to invite divine blessings and bring bountiness to the village.
The first half of the program, lavanya explained the importance of villu paatu and a Tamil story of a king who goes hunting and is filled with remorse having hunted down a tiger.
The second part, she sang the Punya koti, popular and much loved song of Karnataka. Its about truth, honesty and keeping one's promise that symbolizes the spirit and core of the Kannadigas. The audience dived into her stories.
