Kozhikode to host Varnapakittu transgender arts fete from August 21

Kozhikode will host this year’s Varnapakittu transgender arts festival from August 21 to 23.

Minister for Social Justice R. Bindu said in Kozhikode on Tuesday that a national conference would be one of the major events of the fete, to be held on August 21. Representatives from States that had implemented a transgender policy as done by Kerala and subject experts would attend the conference.

Panel discussions on transgender/queer issues and a film festival on transgender issues would be held the same day. The panel discussion would be on transgender persons’ health, welfare, education, skill development, social justice, and human rights. Plastic and cosmetic surgeon Narendra Kaushik; State Health Systems Resource Centre director Jithesh V.; Government Medical College, Kottayam, Plastic Surgery department head Lakshmi will be among those taking part.

The next two days of the festival will see staging of various art forms.

A short film festival will be held by the Social Justice department as part of Varnapakittu.

Awards will be presented to transgender persons; community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations; and local bodies that have implemented transgender-related activities effectively in the areas of arts, sports, education, literature, and entrepreneurship.

This year, the contestants would be awarded grades according to the marks scored. The festival manual has been revised accordingly.

The contestant scoring the most points in stage events would be selected as Kalarathnam and that in the non-stage events as Sargapratibha.

Moreover, groups/individuals securing A grade in team/solo events would be presented with cash award of ₹7,500 and ₹3,000, respectively.

A festival proclamation rally would be held ahead of the festival on August 21. A flash mob too would be held, the Minister said.