Yet another cruel year for folk artistes in Tamil Nadu

Govt.’s ban on temple festivals has hit them

Hopes of folk artistes in the southern districts of good earnings during summer festivals (kodai) in temples have been shattered again this year after the State government announced a ban on festivals in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases. They lost their livelihood in 2020 and are not sure how to overcome difficulties this season. “I received advance to perform in several temples. Now, one by one all of them have cancelled. We do not know how to make a living,” said nagaswaram player and naiyandi melam artiste Panakudi Siva. Unlike others, folk artistes depend on summer festivals that take place during March, April, May and the first week of June, corresponding with the Tamil months of Panguni, Chithirai and Vaikasi, to make a living. Since festivals last year were cancelled, most artistes were asked to perform this year at the same temples. But 2021 has also proved to be disastrous.