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Ritual Arts
Art & Culture of Kerala
Ritual Arts
Theyyam : A ritual dance performed in honour of the temple deity. Prevalent
in North Kerala and South Kanara district of Karnataka. Theyyam, the local deity,
is believed to bless and arbitrate between the farmers and their landlords.
Unlike Kathakali, Theyyam is being performed by people of lower strata. Each
one has a distinctive headgear and costume made out of natural materials like
leaves and bark. Facial decorations are intricately designed and rich in symbolism,
transforming the lowly farmer into a deity. Theyyam is always performed by men,
they also enact female roles wearing make-up and colourful costumes of women.
For many a performer, applying paint for theyyam is only a part-time job. These
days, theyyams have a newfound role to perform: give colour and festivity to
processions Theyyakkolams are being flaunted on streets even by political parties.
Patayani : Patayani is a week- long ritual dance, held in Kaali temples
on the banks of the Pamba river during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Medam
(March - April). The choice theme of the dancers is the slaying of the demon
Daarikan by the goddess Kaali. The steps and movements of the dance vary according
to each Kolam or character. Thappu is the major percussion instrument accompanied
by a few Chendas. Patayani masks are made with the fresh spathe of arecanut
palms. Bhairavi (Bhadrakaali), Yakshi, Pakshi (bird) and Kaalari (Siva) are
the main characters. Various communities targetted for criticism are represented
by jestures. Kadammanitta, Kadalimangalam and Othara in Pathanamthitta district
are famous for annual Patayani performances.
Poothanumthirayum : This ritual offering to Goddess Kaali is performed
in many places of South Malabar. A troupe of dancers dress up as Kaali (the
Thira) and the accompanying spirits (the Poothams) who were created along with
the goddess for the destruction of the evil demon, Daarikan. The Thira wear
masks while the spirits don semi-circular wooden crowns. The dance is performed
from house to house and on the premises of village shrines between November
and May every year.
Paana : Paana or Pallippaana, as it is sometimes called, is a ritual
art to propitiate the goddess Bhadrakaali. The art form is popular in the districts
of Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. Paana is part of a three day festival.
A canopy is supported by 64 posts of cut out from the Paala tree ( Alstonia
scholaris) and adorned with tender palm fronds is erected near the shrine of
the goddess. A stump of this tree is ceremonially brought to the site and planted
there for the occasion and a non-figurative kalam is drawn in the centre using
coloured powders. A ceremonial sword is placed on a red silk cloth under the
tree stump to signify the presence of the goddess.
At the end of a series of rites, the oracle arrives and moves in a trance around
the kalam and the pandal (canopy). The para, a variation of the chenda is the
main percussion accompaniment. The dream beats work up to a frenzy to match
the steps of the oracle. Performed during the night, the ritual lasts for about
three hours.
Mudiyettu : Mudiyettu is a ritual dance performed in some Kaali temples
of Ernakulam and Kottayam districts (central Kerala). The dance celebrates the
goddess's triumph over the demon Daarikan. Mudiyettu is per.
Koothu : Koothu is a socio-religious art performed in the Koothambalam
or the Koothuthara of temples, either independently or as part of Kootiyattam.
It is a solo narrative performance interspersed with mime.
Kannyarkali : Kannyarkali, also known as Desathukali, is a folk art exclusively
practised by the Nair community of the Palakkad area. It owes its origin to
the pursuit of martial arts in this region.
Arjuna nritham : Arjuna nritham (the dance of Arjuna) is a ritual art
performed by men and is prevalent in the Bhagavathy temples of Kerala. Arjuna,
the most valiant of the five heroic brothers - the Pandavas.
Tholppavakkoothu : Tholppavakkoothu, literally meaning 'leather puppet
play', is a ritual art performed during the annual festivals in the Kaali temples
of Palakkad district. The theme of the play is based on the Kamb.
Velakali: This spectacular martial dance is performed by men in some
of the temples of southern Kerala. The dancers, clad in the traditional clothes
and colourful headgear of the medieval Nair soldiers, engag.
Kalamezhuthu : The kalam is a unique drawing also called dhulee chithram
or powder drawing. The artist uses the floor as his canvas. Kalamezhuthu pattu
is performed as part of the rituals to worship and propitiate.
Margomkali : Margomkali is a ritual folk art of the Syrian Christians
of Kottayam and Thrissur districts. A dozen dancers sing and dance around a
lighted wick lamp ( Nilavilakku), clad in the simple traditional.
Kavadiyattom : Kavadiyattam, a colourful ritual art, is a votive offering
to Sree Subramanya. Basically of Tamil origin, Kavadiyattam is widely prevalent
in the Subramanya temples all over Kerala during the festiv.
Theeyattu : Theeyattu is a solo dance-drama performed in front of the Kalam
or Dhooli Chitram (ritual drawing with coloured powders). It is enacted in some
Bhagavathy temples of Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Thripunith.
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Art & Culture
of Kerala ›› Performing
Arts ›› Ritual Art
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