Jaffna Music Festival 2013

The village level performance held in Mulliavali, Mullaitivu, Pasiyoor and Jaffna recently as a pre-festival folk music empowerment initiative, was a unique event.

Scenes from the pre-festival village performances

The revival and re-introduction of local folk forms at the two locations were witnessed by a large number of people.

Some came on bicycles, while others walked. Even babies and toddlers were in attendance, wrapped securely in their parents' arms. There was much laughter, chatter and collective excitement as they came from all over Mulliavali and Pasiyoor.

They shared mats on which they sat with one another for a night of colour, lights, music and dance.

The performance of Parai drumming stirred the crowd with its wild beats so much so that some broke with convention and danced energetically with the colourfully clad performers.

It was heart-warming to see communities that suffered so much gathered together sharing an altogether different kind of experience - one that depicted hope and recognition for a better future. Most of the northern communities suffered due to 30 years of terrorism.

Due to the circumstances most of them were forced to give up their folk forms and as a result have lost or damaged their instruments and costumes beyond repair. The folk groups performing in the past festival and the upcoming one were equipped by the Jaffna Music Festival initiative.