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Festivals
of Kerala
Velichappadu - Komaram (literally,
revealer of light): The oracle is usually dressed in red and carries a sword
and shield. Possessed by the spirit of the deity the oracle dances in a
frenzy at the festivals in Bhagavathy temples.
Ammankudam is a ritual dance of
devotees carrying pots on the head of offering to the goddess. Usually
performed in Bhagavathy temples.
Arattu (holy bath) is a ritual
connected with the closing of a festival. The idols of deities are carried
in a procession to the river for the holy bath. The purified idols are then
escorted back to the temple accompanied by a grand elephant pageant,
Panchavadyam, nadaswaram and chendamelam.
Chandanakudam Ritual offering of
coins in earthen pots in Muslim shrines. The pots are smeared with sandal
paste, the mouth covered with white cloth, with a garland around the neck
and three incense sticks fixed into the cloth covering.
Chuttuvilakku (literally,
chuttu-surround, vilakku-lamp), the thousands of oil lamps fixed on the
outer walls of the temple.
Ezhunnallathu:
is the ceremonial procession of the idols of a temple. The procession
usually comprises various art forms, traditional temple music and elephant
pageants.
Kodiyettam is the ceremonious flag
hosting ceremony denoting the beginning of the festival or festive season in
a temple, church or mosque.
Pallivetta (the holy hunt) is
symbolic of Lord Vishnu hunting down the demon of evil in a forest. The
procession is usually very colourful and attracts devotees in large crowds.
Paraveppu A ritual performed in
many Hindu homes as part of a festival. The para (wooden/brass measure) full
of paddy is arranged in front of the house along with the lighted lamp and
other offerings like fruit, jaggery and so on the offering is collected by a
procession of elephants carrying the thidampu (idol of the deity of the
temple).
Pongala This ritual offering to
goddess Bhagavathy, is a preparation of rice, jaggery, coconut and plantains
cooked together, in the temple premises.
Seeveli A ceremonial procession
which denotes the conclusion of the morning and evening Pooja (devotional
rites) in certain temples.
Thalappoli is a ceremonial
procession, around the temple, of girls or women in traditional attire
holding the thalam in their hands. The thalam (usually a silver or brass
plate) contains rice, flowers and lighted lamp-all of which symbolise
prosperity.
Dances
of Kerala 
Theyyam Theyyam is one of the
most outstanding folk arts of Kerala and has its origin in the northern
parts of the state. Also called Thirayattam, (because every thira or village
performed this ritualistic art at the village temple) this primitive
ritualisic art demands long hours preparation before the performance.
TheTheyyam
(a form or shape) represents a mythological, devine or heroic character.
There are over 350 Theyysma in northen Kerala. The hood, headdress , face
painting, Breast plate, bracelets,garlands and fabric of attire of each of
these Theyyams are distinct and meticulously crafted according to the
character presented. Musical accomaniments are chenda and veekuchenda
(drums), elathalam and Kuzhal(horn). This art form is mostly performed in
Bhagavathy temples. Performances are on between october and May. Thira is
the main subdivision of Theyyam.
Cherumarkali is a harvest dance in
which the dancers, both men and women move in a swift rhythm, linked in a
back lock or holding arms. The costumes are in striking red and white.
Kaalavela is a spectacular procession
of huge, gaudily decorated motifs of bulls (kaala.)
Kalampattu
(kalamezhuthu pattu) is another folk art form that belongs to the
northern regions of Kerala. This art form which is over 600years old is
performed by a group of five to fifteen people in Bhadrakali and Ayyappa
temples. The rituals is performed around the kolam -an elaborate picture,
usually of Bhadrakali, drawn on the floor, using five colours. The
performance in the light of temple torches lasts through the night. The
singers are neatly dressed with women wearing their hair on the side of the
head. A series of songs (kalampattu) are sung to the accompaniment of
nanthuni and elathalam.
Kalaripayattu is the comprehensive
system of martial arts if Kerala, regarded as one of the oldest and most
scientific in the world. Kalaripayattu training aims at the ultimate
co-ordination of mind and body. The traditional training in a Kalari
includes specialisation in indigenous medical practices too. Kalaris are
also centres of religious worship.
Kaliyoottu is an eight day long
colourful folk ritual which re-enacts the combat between goddess Durga and
the demon Darika. The ritual is performed in different stages. The climax of
the
play- the ritual called paranettu- is performed on a specially constructed
100 feet high stage on the eight day.
Kanniyarkali (Deshathukali) which is a
ritual art and a swift dance form, performed to the accompaniment of
devotional folk songs and the resounding drum beats is usually performed in
Bhagavathy temples.
Kavadiyattam is a ritual dance
offering in Subramanya temples. The group of devotees wearing bright yellow
or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the body, dance in a frenzy
carrying Kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are colourful bow shaped wooden
structures rising six to ten feet high. The ambalakavadi is structured and
decorated like a temple. The Pookavadi has clusters of colourful paper,
cloth or plastic flowers arranged on them. The resounding beats of
percussion instruments like udukku and chenda and the nadaswaram are
characteristic of the kavadi procession.
Kettukazhcha is a spectacular pageant
of colourfully decorated effigies of gods and goddesses, and images of
animals like the horse, bull etc.
Kolkali is a group dance form of the
farming community in Kerala. Twelve to twenty four dancers move rhythmically
in a circle around the ceremonial lamp, tapping the two feet long wooden
sticks held in their hands.
Kummattikali
is a temple folk art and an awe inspiring mask dance.
Kumbhamkali / kumbhamthullal (pot
dance) is a folk ritual dance of devotees carrying pots on the head.
Kuthiottam is a ritual art exclusive
to the Devi temples of south Kerala. A team of artistes perform this song
and dance ritual. The songs include those in praise of Durga and other
deities, Padapattu (war songs) and Kalaripattu (martial art songs).
Instrumental accompaniments are mainly percussions, ganjira, bells and
chaplankatta. Faces are painted and red curtains are used as partitions on
the stage.
Pooram is the great elephant pageant
of certain temples in Kerala. Bejewelled tuskers numbering ten to hundred,
line up for this exotic spectacle with mahouts siting atop them carrying the
muthukuda (tinsel covered silk parasols) and waving the venchamaram (white
tufts). The pageant is accompanied by the panchavadyam which gradually works
up to a crescendo. The most fascinating aspect of the pooram is the
Kudamattom ritual, the ceremonial synchronised changing of the colourful
parasols held aloft the elephants.
Mamangam (the term today describes any
endeavour that is reckless and expensive). This festival is a replication of
the cultural extravaganza held every 12 years by the zamorins of Malabar in
the middle ages. Royal families, principalities and chieftains from all over
Kerala used to participate in this great cultural event which was held on
the grounds of the Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple at Ponnani in Malappuram.
Mayilnritham/Mayilattom is a ritual
art performed by artistes in peacock costume. It is performed in Subramanya
in south Kerala. Oppana is a Muslim bridal group dance.
Padayani
(literally, a column of army) is a colourful ritual art which is symbolic of
the victory march of goddess Kali after she defeated the demon Darika. The
elaborate costume of this art form bears slight resemblance to Theyyam.
Poothamkali (pootham) is a folk art
more commonly performed in the Bhagavathy temples of Malappuram. Pootham is
the character who accompanied Durga in her combat with Darika asura. The
performers, usually three in number, undergo a week of austerity before the
presentation. Colourful and intricately designed masks carved out of the
pala and murukku trees are the highlights of the attire. The fifteen minute
performance starts slowly and works up to a frenzy towards the end. The
thudi provides rhythm to the dance which is usually rendered at night.
Pulikali also known as kaduvakali is a
common sight in Kerala during festive seasons. Performers painted like
tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the loud beats of
percussion instruments like the udukku and thakil.
Sarpa pattu (sarpam thullal) or snake
dance is a ritual art performed in shrines and temples devoted to Nagaraja
the king of serpents. It is performed by women who belong to the Pulluvar
caste, in a specially decorated pandal, before the sarpakalam (snake designs
on the floor). The women dance in a frenzy to the rhythm of the sarpa pattu,
until they fall down exhausted. The sarpa pattu is performed to the
accompaniment of veena, kudom and kaimani.
Thattumelkoothu is a devotional folk
art. The dance is performed on a special platform which carried around the
temple by devotees even as the performance goes on.
ThidampuNritham which is over 700
years old, is a ritualistic art form of North Kerala. The dancer moves to
the rhythmic beats of the chenda carrying the thidampu (the idol of the
deity) on his head. Seven artists accompany him on percussion instruments
while two others hold aloft the ritualistic lamps. The artiste wears much
jewellery and a decorated turban known as Ushnipeetam.
Thiruvathirakali is a dance form which
is a pointer to the old customs followed in Nair tharawads (joint families)
where the women of the house dance elegantly around the ceremonial lamp or
floral decoration on festive occasions to the accompaniment of the
Thiruvathira Pattu (song).
Thiyyattu
is a devotional offering to Bhadrakali and Sree Ayyappa. This ritual art is
performed in a specially decorated pandal, before the Kalam (five colour
design on the floor), the traditional lamp (nilavilaku), and peetam (stool).
The performance usually starts at dusk. The artists sing and dance to the
rhythmic music of the chenda, elathalam and chengila. The costumes bear
resemblances to Ottanthullal and Kathakali, the distinctive features are
huge jingling anklets and face makeup with tiny white dots.
Tholpavakoothu which is said to have
originated in the 18th century is also known as pavakoothu (puppet play) or
nizhalattam (shadow play). This entertainment art is performed on a special
stage called koothumadam in the temple courtyard. Puppets (pavakal), usually
representing four characters from the Ramayana, are arranged behind a long
white screen, in front of bright wick lamps. The puppets made of deer skin
are made to dance to songs from the Kamba Ramayana (the Tamil version of the
epic). The performance starts late at night and continues up to daybreak.
Vadithallu is almost similar to
Kolkali and is a folk dance in which artistes tap the short sticks held in
both hands.
Velakali is one of the most elaborate
and spectacular martial folk arts
of
Kerala. This ritual art form is usually presented within the temple premises
and is called Thirumumbil vela when performed before the deity and
Kulathivela when performed near the temple pond. Fifty or more performers in
the traditional attire of soldiers, bearing colourful shields and swords or
long canes, dance with war like steps in perfect orchestration with the
resounding rhythm of the thakil, suddha maddlam, elathalam, kuzhal and
trumpets. A few fighting techniques of Kalaripayattu are also displayed in
the course of the performance.
Koothambalam: Special hall in the
temple premises for ritual and classical art performances.
Koothumadam: Stage specially erected
for certain ritual and classical art performances in the temple.
