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Chiratala Bhajana
Chiratala Bhajana or Chekka Bhajana resembles Kolattam very closely in
its movements, steps, dance and style and songs except that the players
hold Chiratalu instead of sticks. All the technical terms like jattu,
Garidi, Uddi, Kopu, Ettugada, Muktayimpu, Usi are common to both Kolattam
and Chiratala Bhajana. Chiratalu, a pair of wooden pieces chiseled and
riveted with jingling bells and metal pieces, produces metallic and rattling
sound. The two pieces can be held in a palm like a single piece by inserting
the thumb and middle finger into the rings fixed in the centre on the
top side of the wooden pieces. By opening and closing the palm the two
pieces strike each other and produces musical sound. In Kolattam each
player hold two sticks one in each hand, in Chiratala Bhajana the players
hold a pair of Chiratalu in one hand and a colourful handkerchief in another
which he waves while jumping and dancing. The kolattam kopus are of short
duration where as the Chiratala Bhajana kopus are of long duration facilitating
narration of episodes from Epics and Puranas. There are nearly 100 kinds
of kopus depicting variety in the steps. In modern times long narratives
have been divided into small bits with different gatis and styles. In
olden days lamp posts used to be erected in the middle of the circle of
players. Now troupe leader stands in the middle and sings the narrative
playing cymbals or Chiratalu.
A troupe consisting of 10 to 20 members forms into a
circle while the leader who stands in the centre begins the bhajan,
directing the troupe. All members follow him. The commencing steps are
known as Adi Adugu (beginning steps). This is compulsory item. The other
steps are known as Potu Adugu, Kuppadugu, Kulukula Adugu, Joku Adugu,
Nemili Adugu, Gurappu Adugu, Uyyala Adugu. The players hang garlands in
their necks and tie jingling bells to their ankles, they also tie
colourful waist bands.
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