Vaayo! ARPO Invites You to a Celebration of Heritage
Get ready, Kerala! This Kerala Piravi, Friday, November 1, 2025, the Archival and Research Project (ARPO) is launching something truly special: the first-ever Vaayo Fest!
Hosted at Local Sustainable Living, Maradu, Kochi, this day-long cultural immersion is a direct and powerful appeal to engage with Kerala's diverse, resilient, and often overlooked traditions.
The name says it all: 'Vaayo' is a direct invitation to "come" and experience culture firsthand. We're moving beyond mere appreciation to invite the public into the actual work of heritage preservation, capturing ARPO's mission to keep local traditions strong.
A Series Celebrating Kerala's Cultural Threads
The Kochi event is just the first stop! The Vaayo Fest is planned as a series of immersive heritage celebrations taking place on weekends throughout November and December 2025 in key locations across Kerala.
Future venues for the series will include:
- Calicut
- Thekkady
- Wayanadu
Stay tuned to our channels for the full schedule and program details for these exciting upcoming festivals!
Inaugural Event Snapshot: Kochi (November 1, 2025)
The inaugural Kochi festival is structured to offer deep, hands-on engagement with various cultural threads of the state:
1. A Journey into Hidden History
Start your morning with the Thripunithura Heritage Walk. Guided by local storyteller Balagopal Varma, this is more than just a tour; it's a narrative deep dive into the locality's hidden history, offering a new perspective on a familiar place.
2. Kathakali Reimagined
Prepare for a convention-challenging session! We're hosting a dedicated program on Understanding Kathakali featuring India's first-ever all-women Kathakali troupe. This is your chance to engage with a living legacy, learn how to interpret the art form, master its Mudras (hand gestures), and understand its powerful future.
3. Visual Stories & Community Voices
The afternoon brings a double feature:
- The ARPO Photo Exhibition: A visual showcase of the incredible communities and processes ARPO works with across Kerala.
- Documentary Screening and Q&A: Watch a powerful documentary and then get to talk directly with the crew about their experiences and stories from the field.
4. The Power of Folk
The day culminates with a vibrant Folk & Traditional Music Open Mic, providing a crucial stage for tribal and marginalised folk voices to share their powerful and authentic music.
