Covelong*, about 40km by road from Chennai, has firmly put India on the surfing destinations map of the world. And the festival -- Covelong Point Surf, Music and Yoga Festival &ndash organised by the surfing school has now attained the stature of a carnival.
From surfing contests to kayak races, yoga to workshops, music and dancc to food and flea market, you have a lot of things to explore, participate in and enjoy in the course of the three day festival, from August 23 to 25, this year. On the side-line, you will find street pieces, mixed media artwork and photographic exhibitions.
The Covelong Point Surf Competition, which draws contestants from home and abroad, is the high point of the festival. Watch the experts master the azure waves with a display of mind-boggling skills. See them do a 360 degree turn or go barrelling, watch how they make a bottom turn or tackle a bomb.
If you have never surfed before and keen to learn or want to hone your amateur skills, you may register for paid 20-minute sessions, which will be held daily. There will be opportunities to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding too. Check if you are good at slacklining, which is similar to tight rope walking, with competitors walking a line strung between two anchor points.
Learn how to stitch body, mind and soul together in blissful union at the Yoga and Wellness sessions spread throughout the day. Besides traditional yoga, there will be opportunities to practise many of the new-age offshoots such as Cult Yoga, 360 Yoga, Acro Yoga, Nia Yoga, etc. You can also pick up the basics of the traditional martial art from Kerala from Raam Kumar, a Kalarippayattu performer and instructor from Kerala.
Music in an integral part of the festival, with three stages &ndash the Beach Stage, the Surf Turf Stage and the DoGood Yoga Stage &ndash to hold the musical extravaganza. The Beach Stage, with sea in the background will showcases a curated line-up of world class musicians and dancers. Artists representing different genres and styles will be performing at the Surf Turf Stage. A select group of musicians and sound artists will take possession of the DoGood Yoga Stage to show the visitors how music can be a medium to heal, to look deep within, to awaken meditative states of the mind.
Although accommodation is available at the Surf Turf at Covelong Point but those may be taken up by the surfing community. However, you may choose to stay in the heritage town of Mahabalipuram or Chennai itself, these being 20km and 40km away, respectively, from Covelong Point.
For tickets and schedules, check out their website.
*Also called Kovalam, this surfing destination is in Tamil Nadu not to be confused with the beach with the same name in Kerala.
