Thu Jan 09 09:37:51 UTC 2025: ## International Performing Arts Festival “Ragbag 2025” to Debut in Kerala
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 9, 2025** – Kerala is set to host its first international performing arts festival, Ragbag 2025, from January 14-19 at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village (KACV) in Kovalam. The six-day event, curated by Sasikumar V, promises an immersive experience blending diverse artistic expressions with technology.
Ragbag, described as a “metaphorical bag of rags” representing reuse and reimagination, will feature international artists from Italy, Chile, Germany, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Poland, alongside Indian talent. Performances will span theatre, music, technology, circus, and puppetry, reflecting the digital era’s fusion of imagination and technology. The festival’s theme, “oceanic circles,” inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizes interconnectedness in social and biological ecosystems.
The festival is structured into four segments: The **Performance Bag**, opening with Roysten Abel’s “The Manganiyar Seduction” featuring 40 Rajasthani musicians; the **Idea Bag**, featuring panel discussions; the **Ragbag Feast**, curated by Chef Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar, showcasing culinary diversity from across India and beyond; and the **Craft Bazaar**, curated by Jaya Jaitly, highlighting sustainable and eco-friendly crafts from 33 artisans.
Highlights of the Performance Bag include Italy’s vertical performance “Cubo,” Poland’s street-style “Animal School,” Chile’s aerial comedy “Rito para Un Vals,” Denmark’s rendition of “Alice in Wonderland,” and India’s multi-disciplinary “Oru Poomala Katha.”
The Craft Bazaar, themed “Coalescence,” will feature handmade textiles, jewellery, home decor, and sustainable products, with a focus on highlighting the environmental consciousness of traditional Indian crafts. Workshops on Sanjhi, Bagru printing, and Madhubani crafts will also be offered.
The Ragbag Feast will feature chefs from Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, offering a diverse culinary experience. Dishes will range from Nagaland’s rice congee to Sri Lankan Kiri bath and Bangladeshi beef kala bhuna, providing a unique taste of India’s diverse culinary landscape.
A curtain-raiser performance of Henrik Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt,” directed by Deepan Sivaraman, will precede the festival on January 13th at the Tagore Theatre. Tickets are available on bookmyshow.com.
First Piper 