Tripura’s tableaux influenced by ‘Nari shakti’ theme on R-Day

New Delhi: The theme of “Nari Shakti” and women empowerment was dominated by tableaux from Tripura, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra at the Republic Day parade here on Thursday.

The theme of Tripura Tableau revolved around women power. It highlighted sustainable livelihoods through tourism and organic farming with active participation of women in Tripura.
The tableau depicted the Mahamuni Pagoda (Buddhist Stupa) in front. The middle section showcased various local performing art forms of Tripura such as Homgiri momitete.

Tripura’s inclusive culture and women’s participation in various fields are shown by women in self-help groups at work, women with pineapple baskets, women working in cottages, tea gardens and women dressed in colorful traditional dresses. Running along with Tableau.
Kerala presented a tableau of “Folk Traditions of Women’s Power and Women’s Empowerment” featuring Kalaripayattu, a martial art with over 2,000 years of history, percussion and tribal traditions.

Kerala has the highest female literacy rate in the country and has the world’s largest women’s self-help network, Kadumbashree.

Tableau linked women empowerment with the mission of literacy.
The tractor depicts the 2020 Nari Shakti Puraskar winner Karthyayani Amma who topped the literacy test at the age of 96. Nanchiyamma, the first tribal woman to win the 2022 National Film Award for Best Playback Singing, is seen saluting the nation.

Women performing the Kalaripayattu and the legendary Unni Archa who is famous in Kerala folklore for her mastery of the Kalaripayattu is shown at the top.

The tribal dance of the Irula community is shown on the sides and the activities of the Kadumbashree are shown on the back.
Tableau of Karnataka also celebrated the power of Nari Shakti. Sulagitti Narasamma, a midwife, Tulsi Gowda Halakki, known as Vruksha Maate (Mother of Trees), and Salomurda Themaka (Themaka of the Row of Trees) have become household names for their selfless contribution to society.

The Center awarded him Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian award, for his outstanding achievement.
In the foreground of the tableau was Sulagitti Narasamma, a midwife, rocking a cradle with a child in it and playing with the children in her arms.

Narasamma is adept at performing traditional deliveries in the absence of skilled doctors. More than two thousand such deliveries have been made by him in the last seven decades.

At the center of the tableau was a light Tulsi Gowda Halakki, nourishing the foliage. Tulsi is an expert in identifying and cultivating rare species of plants. He is credited with planting more than 30,000 saplings. This is shown in the form of her sitting among the plants and nurturing them.
The last part of the tableau shows the tree planter Salumarada Thimmakka, who, with the help of her husband, planted and watered 8,000 trees along the highways.

Tamil Nadu’s tableau theme was based on women’s empowerment and the culture of the state which has existed since the Sangam period till today.
The front of the tableau featured a statue of the poet Oviyar, an icon for intellectual women. He wrote “Aathichoodi” and “Kondraiventhan” among many other excellent poems. She is also known as a great and worshipable saint of outstanding morals.

On either side of the facade is an idol of Veeramangal Velu Naachiar on a horse. She was the queen of Sivaganga (1780-90), who stood as the epitome of valor and fought against the East India Company.
The central part of the tableau displayed statues of eminent women figures such as the great Carnatic singer M S Subbulakhsmi, the great Bharatanatyam master Tanjore Balasaraswati, social reformer and Dr Mutulakhmi Reddy, writer and political activist of the Dravidian movement, Moovalur Ramamirtham or popular farmer, Amvalvaramagram, and famous farmer. Even at the age of 105, he is active in his field of agriculture.

The back of the tableaux theme showed a replica of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar temple built by the Chola king Rajaraja Chozhan.

The temple has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On the ground, the artistes were seen performing Karagaattam, accompanied by a group of musicians in traditional attire, playing the kombu (horn), Naadaswaram and Thavil.

The Maharashtrian tableau presented “Sade Tin Shaktipithe and Nari Shakti” on the backdrop of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav .

Goddesses are considered as sources of power, which is reflected through this tableau. In the front part of the tableau, Ghondali associated with the goddess can be seen playing a cymbal. On the main body, one can see replicas of three and a half Shaktipeeths.
At the center of the tableau is a folk art form associated with the goddess Potraj and Aaradhi. The back of the tableau depicts a Maharashtrian woman who represents feminine power.

Apart from this, folk art forms like Bhop Bhutye, Jogwa are also depicted on the tableau.