Mohanam Instrument research center and Cultural Center
Sunday morning adventures took us to the instrument research center. here young Tamil men learn to make instruments and research is conducted on the traditional instruments as well as how to use new materials - local and sustainable - for the instrument making. After that, we ventured to the Mohanam Cultural Center - the brainchild of a group of 15 to 18 year old boys who were school drop outs - they were inspired by a cultural center they visited in Chennai and decided they wanted to bring a cultural center to their own village. The center has been in existence for five years now and the instrument building center was an offshoot of the cultural center. Here children learn traditional songs, crafts, dances, etc. from village women. These are traditional creative arts that are dying with the elders and this cultural center has been hugely successful in keeping the traditions alive. It was an inspiring morning and the following are some photographs from our adventure. enjoy!
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Balu (sp?) giving us an explaination of what happens in the research center.
a dog donning a bindi
I love this photo with the musical notes written in chalk on the door of the drum storage. Coconut leaf decorations hang from the roof.
woodshop where instruments are made.
inside woodshop
Documentary films are being made about the Mohanam project as well as others. Here is the editing room.
Mohanam Cultural Center.... we took a cycle ride through a village to get here.
cycles
Aaron being greeted traditionally by the children at Mohanam
painting
sculpture
dance
These are two women they found in the village that know the traditional dances -- they have come to teach the children at Mohanam.
then we headed for the coconut garden for lunch.
but we met Viday first. He used to belong to a gypsy who taught him how to pickpocket, so he was very interested in our Jewelry, water bottles, watches, keys, etc. but we did make friends with him!
lunch time
be advised - always bring your own water!!!!
Good food and new friends!
water and flowers in the center of our circle bring good energy
now, it's off to the beach... this time with sunscreen!!!!
Posted by: Jules Berner on Sep 18, 05 | 11:15 am
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