Kalaripayattu is said to be the oldest martial art in the world that has been practiced in India for over 4,000 years.

Musicians, artisans and artists from India are appearing at the Naha International Airport Domestic Terminal this weekend as the Okinawa-India Friendship Association celebrates its 10^th anniversary.

The relationship between Japan and India dates even farther, back 60 years to the founding of diplomatic relations between the two countries.   Indian culture will be commemorated with art and Indian living, starting at the airport Saturday afternoon.

Speeches open the program at 1:30 p.m., followed by Indian classical dance at 1:45 p.m.  The Indian classical martial arts performance follows at 2 p.m., and visitors will have opportunities to take pictures wearing Indian clothes beginning at 2:30 p.m.  A second program stage begins at 3:30 p.m. with speeches from Okinawa and Indian leaders.  Indian classical dance is at 3:45 p.m., followed by another classical martial arts performance.  At 5:30 p.m. there’s a second picture taking experience with Indians and wearing Indian apparel.

The Okinawa-India Friendship Association anniversary celebration continues Sunday at the Plaza House 2^nd floor atrium in Okinawa City.  As with Saturday, the association will feature two stages, one beginning at 1 p.m. and a second at 4 p.m.  Each will have speeches, Indian classical dance, Indian classical martial arts performance and photo sessions.

The martial arts performances, Kalaripayattu, date back centuries to Kerala, India.  The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two words in Malayalam, Kalari and Payattu, with Kalari meaning ‘combat school’ and Paayattu meaning ‘battle using various weapons’.  Kalaripayattu is a dangerous martial art performed with a strained feeling of tension using weapons.  It is intended to train both body and mind, and uses methods that control the body by restraining both the heart and mind, and controlling the heart and mind by restraining the body.

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