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Mudiyettu
This is a more elaborate and dramatic form of ritual dance in
which the Kali cult emerges in all its entirety. This is Mudiyettu, the
portrayal of the fight between Kali and Darika, ending up with the slaying of
Darika. Mudiyettu begins with Kalamazhikkal (wiping out of the floor painting).
Mudiyettu literally means the placing of the crown on the head. The moment the
person impersonating Kali in the ritual dance drama, wears the headgear,
he get possessed and remains possessed all through the night in the battle
scenes that ensue. Kali as well as her rival have their attendants and
battalions. On the side of the Kali are the Kalis (her attendant spirits),
Koimpidar (a character probably representing the virtuous in society) who sides
with all righteous causes. Darika is accompanied by Danava, who joins hands with
him in the fight with Kali. There is a vigorous acting in the drama which has no
set stage for the enactment. The fight take place at several points in the
courtyard around the temple. The facial makeup of Kali shows the boils of small
pox, dots of white marks, with rice paste. Kali when made up closely resembles
the Kalam drawn on the floor.
Kotamuri
In Kotamuri, the cow is held as the symbol of prosperity of the
village. The vegetative cult find its identity with the social context in the
form of a ritual in which a young boy is made up as Kotamuri. A protruding
wooden cow face is fitted on a frame tucked into the boys waist. A couple or so
of jesters wearing masks painted on green sheaths, dance to the rhythm of songs
by the accompanying singers. They crack jokes on social themes of immediate
relevance. The party visits houses in the village and collects grain and other
presents in the name of the cow of prosperity. The following lines
from a song on the cow speaks eloquently and succinctly on its beautiful nature.
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"Whenever Kotamuri treads her way,
Grain and money hold
their sway".
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The song deals with how the goddess of prosperity, 'Annapurna'
came to Kerala from the land of Aryans. She sets out on a journey in a ship with
her retinue and reaches 'Cherukunnu' where she is idolised and
consecrated. There are references in the song about different varieties of rich
seeds imported to Kerala.
Poorakali
Poorakali
is a temple festival
in the northern areas of Kerala, held in the Bhagavathy temples extending for
nine days in the Malayalam month of Meenam. This festival celebrates the rejoicing
on the rebirth of Kama, the god of love and the enjoyment of people in regaining
the feelings of love that were lost when Kama was burnt by the third eye of
Shiva. Poorakkali combines in itself, the rich elements of dance, music, martial
art, literature, poetry and philosophy. In a particular section in this repertoire,
known as 'Andum Pullum', it is described how Shiva and Parvathy in the guise
of Pulluvan and Pulluvathy approach Indra, the celestial ruler and procure the
land and seeds for cultivation on earth. It also portrays how Indra magnanimously
showers rain for a rich crop.
Parichamuttukali
It
is a group dance with the dancers holding sword and shield made of wood. With a
major stress on the Kerala folk tunes, the rhythmic mould of these being shaped
from the meaningless syllables which form the language of the folk instruments.
The dancers tie a string of bells around the ankles and they move in a circle.
For Parichamuttukali, the dancers have to undergo rigorous training in Kalari.
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