Kerala Music & Dances
A pleasant morning to begin with and the sunrays have just reached your doorsteps.
Wake up on a mist-softened morning in Kerala. The sun has just come over the
palm trees and given the color of gold to the entire universe. Thats Kerala
for you the ultimate place to be in. the obsession of the Kerala administration
to make the state one of the most civilized and educated one has led to the
highest literacy rate that enables all people to earn a good livelihood through
their good education. This state inspires all the others in the country and
no doubt is an idol for many.
If you are visiting this state for the first time then you will have a lot
to see and time will seem to run out as there are umpteen number of places
worth seeing and visiting. These are memories that one can cherish and take
back home. It gives you a scintillating feeling that satisfies you and rejuvenates
your senses.
Kerala has a fascinating mix of festivals, food, handicrafts, dance forms
and music seems to be tailor-made for the tourists of the world. It feels
as a reality show as if the gods and goddesses, sages, demons and fabulous
creatures live again in those performances. In the darkness of the night under
the roof of the stars the audience sit captured in these performances that
just enthrall ones senses.
They call them the masters of this art and true to this they are the true
master who rule the stage and capture the peoples imagination in all senses,
the masters of Kathakali, in bright and voluminous robes, their faces made
super-human by finely done make-up. Drums roll, and the voice of the performer
and the singer conjures up the reversed tales of epic and fantasy. The epic
that fascinates and seems to be real in all forms. The performance is mind
blowing and just feels out of the world. These performances are however very
old based on mythological beliefs that existed in those times gone by.
This epic drama's roots go tar back into the past days where everything was
different from the present day life. It probably evolved through a physical
depletion of revered tables for a pre-literate people and took. But today,
no doubt that Kathakali is a highly stylized but an extraordinarily evocative
art which combines chant, drama, dance, make-lip, and gesture into a package
that spins a compelling spell.
It is not just Kthakali that is the main dance form of Kerala,It has a rich
repertoire of folk dances. They in turn show the various forms and moods of
the local folks residing in this cultural state.There are certain dances that
women perform on a solo basis but nevertheless Ttere are also dances in which
men and women perform together.
There are more than fifty well-known folk dances in Kerala. Of them the Kaliyattom,
Mudiyettu, Kolam Thullal,Padayani, Kolkali, Parichamuttukali, Thappukali,
Kuravarkali, and Thiruvathirakali are the most popular. Some of them are:
Kolkali
Is a mixed dance in which both men and women participate. The performers move
in a circle, stricking small sticks and keeping rhythm with special steps.
Mamangam
This huge and wonderful festival is a replication of the cultural extravaganza
that used to be held every 12 years by the Zamorins (ancient rulers of Kozhikode)
in the middle ages
Parichamuttukali
This is martial folk dance, which had its origin during the days when Kalaripayattu,
the famous physical exercise of swordplay and defence was in vogue in Kerala.
Patakam
This art form is very similar to Koothu on gestures and movements, but the
narration is through prose and song sequences.
Kolam Thullal
This is a ritual offering usually performed to get rid pf the troubles caused
by evil-sprits.
Kaalavela
This is a folk art, noted for the procession of huge, colorfully decorated
images of bulls.
Oppana
A Muslim bridal group dance performed the day before the wedding day of the
person.
Mahayana
This colorful ritual art is symbolic of the victory and therefore there is
a march of goddess Kali after she defeated the demon Darika.