Last Saturday was a day to remember! The Whythenshawe Forum Hall in Manchester came alive with rhythm, colour, and energy as our students from ILAC – Bharathi Tamil School performed at the Northern Tamil Association’s Deepavali Kondattam 2025.
More than 60 ILAC students took the stage to present one of the oldest and most treasured stories in Tamil literature — the Silapathikaram. They brought this timeless epic to life through the ancient Tamil art forms of Kalari, Silambam, Bharatham, and Parai.
The performance wasn’t just an act; it was a journey through Tamil history — showing how these traditions of courage, grace, rhythm, and spirit still thrive today, thousands of miles away from their origins. The crowd of more than 750 people watched in awe as our students showcased incredible discipline, teamwork, and talent.
And the best part? We were honoured with a special prize for our performance!
Our students’ dedication truly shone in the grand finale, where more than twenty Parai drummers filled the hall with heart-pounding energy. It was one of those moments where you could feel the pride — in every beat of the drum and every smile on stage.
At ILAC, we’ve been nurturing Tamil language, culture, and arts since 2013. Over the years, we’ve trained hundreds of students in traditional disciplines like Kalari, Silambam, Bharatham, and Parai — giving them a platform to connect deeply with their heritage while growing in confidence and creativity.
As Priya Basker, beautifully said:
“Through language and art, we want our students to feel connected to their roots and proud of carrying these living traditions forward.”
This performance was a wonderful reminder of why ILAC exists — to keep our language, culture, and ancient art forms alive in the hearts of the next generation.
We couldn’t be prouder of our amazing students, parents, and volunteers who made this happen.
Vaazhga Tamil! Vaazhga Ilakkiyam!
