Thiruvananthapuram, 25th September: The second edition of Sammohan, a national festival that celebrates and showcases the talents of individuals with disabilities, will be held at the Different Art Centre (DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27 and 28. The festival will be inaugurated by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at 5 p.m. on September 27 at Different Art Centre. Veteran filmmaker and DAC patron Adoor Gopalakrishnan will preside over the function.

In a grand curtain-raiser to Sammohan 2025, students and teachers of the DAC, along with artists from Nagpur, will stage a variety of performances at Manaveeyam Veedhi on September 26 (Friday).

This year’s festival will showcase nearly 200 artists, with significant participation from Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Performances will span multiple categories, including music, dance, and drama. Renowned artists with disabilities such as Fathima Anshi, Dhanya Ravi, Arya Prakash, Aditya Suresh, and Ananya Bijesh will also grace Sammohan 2025 with their performances.

DAC founder and executive director Gopinath Muthukad said the festival is designed to provide a national platform for individuals with disabilities to showcase their abilities. He added that it is the responsibility of society, and of each individual, to encourage and nurture the talents of individuals with disabilities.

He emphasized that Sammohan 2025 will also invigorate the activities of the International Institute for People with Disabilities (IIPD), being established in Kasaragod, with the larger mission of empowering and uplifting individuals with disabilities. DAC chairman and former Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, along with DAC Director Dr. Anil Nair, were also present at the press conference.