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Sharmila Joshi

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In the villages along the backwaters of Alappuzha district in Kerala, children get together every year to make k uttikkuthira – a compact chariot – during the Aswathi temple festival . The coastal regions of Kerala raise lakhs of rupees every year for each chariot – big and small – without any state support. Around February-March, hundreds of these chariots trundle along the streets of the villages.

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Children and adolescents, along with their entire coastal communities,
participate in
 
 kuthirakettu
 
 (the ritualistic chariot procession) with great enthusiasm. The film featured here covers the journey of a chariot and its makers in Karthikappally village
of Alappuzha district.

Kuttikkuthira of Kerala: children, chariots and festive cheer

کیرالہ کا کُٹّی کُتھیرا: بچے، رتھ اور جشن کا ماحول

கேரளாவின் குட்டிக்குதிரை எனும் திருவிழா கொண்டாட்டம்

କେରଳର କୁଟ୍ଟିକ୍କୁଥିରା: ପିଲାମାନେ, ରଥ ଓ ଉତ୍ସବର ମଜା

Karthikappally

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Kuttikkuthira of Kerala: children, chariots and festive cheer

In Karthikappally and other villages along the backwaters of Alappuzha district in Kerala, children make their own chariots and participate with gusto in an annual ritualistic procession

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