Every year, in August, the sleepy fishing town of Kovalam, near Chennai comes alive. Spotting surfers on the waves crashing onto the shores of Kovalam beach is no new sight for the locals thanks to the local surfing school, Covelong Point Social Surf School. But for the last seven years, the school and the beach has been playing host to the Covelong Point Surf, Music and Yoga Festival. On the occasion of the only surfing competition in India, the quiet hamlet welcomes guests from across the nation and beyond, for the duration of a weekend.
The three elements of Surf, Music and Yoga are showcased in unique ways during the days of the event, through yoga workshops and showcases, surf competitions and music performances. The 7th edition of the event, will be held on 23rd and 24th of August. Featuring surf, yoga and music personalities from the world over, the event attempts year after year, to promote the sport of surfing in India, spread the message of health and wellness, to provide a platform for the country’s artists, promote cultural tourism and facilitate social change.
It provides a unique chance for followers of these activities in the nation to interact and learn from the best. The national surfing challenge at the event has over 200 of the best surfers in the nation competing against each other and is a chance at India to participate in surfing at future Olympic events.
For the yoga section, four different yoga shalas are constructed in the venue with eight different sessions in each, making it one of the biggest yoga events in the country. Featuring a multitude of different styles of yoga, the organisers of the events said that the highlight of the year’s Yoga Workshops is that they have been curated in order to provide variety that has never been there before in a single yoga event.
For music, the event has two stages – a more acoustic oriented smaller stage and a large beach side stage – the musical experience at Covelong point is unlike many other events. This year’s line-up includes two time Grammy Nominee Carmen Rizzo, who will be playing a small set at the event. The headliners for this year features three international acts - Blind Suns (France), Nadav Dagon (Israel) and Yogev Haruvi (Israel) and five prominent Indian bands - Lagori, Mosko, Lady Kash, The Sylvester Trio and The Non-Violinist Project. The acoustic stage will feature up and coming artists from AR Rahman’s KM Conservatory and other local talents.
In addition to these events, the beach side is transformed into a carnival like space, featuring different stalls selling unique products as well as curated food stalls and trucks, and a local village flea market highlighting the local business and establishments of the area. Due to the varied interests that the event caters to, the festival is one that brings together people with very different interests together to meet, interact and have a good time.
You can stay tuned to more information from them at their website.
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