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Dances of Kerala

In the background of mystery shrouded nature, tribalcelebrations originate and the dances which work up

intoxicating excitement physical expressions of their joysand griefs, hopes and fears.

iTribal Dances

Dances of Kerala8

The primitive inhabitants of Kerala, the tribal people are scattered in thejungles and hills of Malabar, Kochi and Travancore. There are about 35different types of the tribals, chief among them being the Kurichiyar, Nayadi,Mullakurumbar, Uralikurumbar, Paniya, Mudaga, Irula, Ernadar, Kadar,

Muthuvan, Kanikkar, Uralees, Paliyan, Malavedan, Vettuvar, Eravallam, Veda and Malayan. Theyare unique examples of communities in isolated existence, still preserving their life, customs andmanners almost untarnished by the advancing waves of urban civilization. Though adapted todifferent dialects and customs, their artistic expression evidently reflects the distinct, secludedand primitive social structure and nature of the people and it still survives as virile a state as everin the tribal hamlets of the hilly tracts.

Each of these aboriginal tribes has its own distinct dance traditions and invariably all ofthem are interwoven with the life of the people who dance it, so much so that it seems that someof their daily tasks are given to rhythmic pattern. In the background of mystry shrouded nature,tribal celebrations originate and the dances which work up intoxicating excitement physicalexpressions of their joys and griefs, hopes and fears.

In some cases the dancing is extremely simple and consists of little more than meaninglessshuffling of the feet or waving of the hands. At other times it is mere swaying of the body to theclapping of hands or beating of primitive drums to mark time. Yet another form shows only the

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Dances of Kerala

monotonous movement of the hands and feet. But, generally speaking, a wide range of movementinvolving all parts of the body, the head, back hips, arms, fingers and the feet and even facialmuscles are utilized in tribal dances.

There are very complicated tribal dances as well in which dancing harmonises gesture,expressing the whole gamut of sentiment, where rhythm is kept by swaying the body and intricatesteps executed with adept foot-work. Usually the dances have a slow beginning, but gathermomentum and work up to a heavy tempo of the vociferous climax of the drums, and the ecstacyof the ever-mounting rhythm of spontaneous music. Many of these dances are heroic or martialin character.

Some tribes have songs to accompany their dances. Either the dancers themselves sing orthe onlookers sing and thus participate. Special musical instruments are sometimes used, but thedrum is almost an indispensable feature. The costumes of the dancers vary from approximatenudity to full attire and ornaments which are extremely colourful and gaudy.

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Like all tribal arts, Kerala’s tribal dances are spontaneous. It is the most direct expression ofthe inner most spirit of a people and the instinct of rhythm is as natural and basic as humannature.

Some of the more well known tribal dances of Kerala are Elelakkaradi, Kadarkali,Kurumbarkali, Paniyarkali, Edayarkali, Mudiyattam and Vedarkali.

Tribal people constitute an important segment of the teeming millions in our country. Indiahas the second largest tribal sects in Kerala, the Paniya, Adiya, Urali, Kattunaikka, Irula, Muduva,Aranadan are the prominent tribal communities.

The tribals artistic expressions, after all, are pure, innocent human sentiments pertainingto primordial agrarian life.

C H A V I T T U K A L I

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Dances of Kerala

ELELAKKARADI

This is a highly heroic group-dance in which almost the whole community of men,women and children participate. The dance is very common with the tribals called Irular ofAttappadi in Palakkad district. The dance brings out the fight of the people against the wild bears

which very often attack their tribal hamlets. Here the dancers move out in rhythmic steps, withvociferous shouts and war cries and keep time to the beatings of the primitive drums. Thevarious stages in the fight against the wild beasts are very well presented.

KAADAR NRITHAM

Only women partake in this primitive dance of the Kaadar tribes of the forests of Kochiarea. The performers arrange themselves in a semicircle. They hold the tip of their clothes in theirhands to the level of the waist and wave it to various rhythms of the dance. It is a very simple butelegant tribal dance in slow steps.

E L E L A K K R A D I

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KURUMBAR NRITHAM

Waynad district had different types of hill tribes of which the Kurumbar and theKattunayakar are the most prominent. They perform a special type of dance which is staged in

connection with marriages. Before marriage, the members of the families of both the bride andbridegroom and after marriage the newly-wedded couple perform this dance. After the return ofthe bridegroom with his bride to his family, all the members of his household and the newlywedded again repeat the dance.

KAANIKKAR NRITHAM

This is a group dance of the Kanikkar tribes. The dance is performed as a ritual offering.The steps of the dancers perfectly synchronise with the waving of the hands and the beating ofthe drums.

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PANIYAR KALI

Paniyar are another set of tribals inhabiting the hilly forests of Waynad district. Theirdance is highly masculine and only men participate. Here the dancers numbering about eight orten stand in a circle with hands linked together. They move around with rhythmic flexions of thebody and while moving stamp the ground in perfect rhythm to the loud beat of the primitivepercussion instruments called Karu, para, udukku, etc. As the dance gathers momentum thecircle is swiftly expanded and contracted and the dancers utter peculiar cries which gradually runup to a high pitch.

MAN KALI

This tribal dance is of two kinds. In one version, the Ramayana episode in which Sita isbeing enchanted by Maricha in the guise of a golden deer is enacted in graceful movements.

In the second type, one man takes the role of a deer while another that of a hunter. The deerhopes about and jumps around. The hunter follows in close steps and his movements and gestures

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suggest drawing the bow, aiming it, hurling the spear, brandishing some wooden log, etc. Thewhole dance is performed to the rhythm of wild percussion instruments.

PARVALLIKALI

It is mixed dance of the aboriginals of the dense forest of Travancore area in which bothmen and women participate. They dance holding arms together, or shoulder to shoulder, linkedin a back lock posture. The dance develops into variety of pleasing pattern, in which the men andwomen change their positions with amazing speed. The entire group of dancers sing songs andmove in swift rhythm in a circle. The linked arms swing to the rhythm in a fascinating wavelikemovement.

MUDIYATTOM

Mudiyattom, also known asNeelilyattom, is a tribal dance inwhich only women partake. Thewoman stand on small wooden blocksand the dance begins with slow andsimple movements of the body whichculminate in graceful movements ofthe head. The uncombed hair of theparticipants flow down and swing inrhythmic waves. The instrumentsused are karu, maram, para, kokkaroetc.

KOORANKALI

Koorankali is another tribaldance which is similar to Mankali.Here one man takes the role of a wildbear with another enacting the role of a hunting dog. The movements are perfectly timed to the

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rhythmic beats of primitive drums. While this is going on, the large number of onlookers whoform a circle round the two dancers, shout wild cries of joy with occasional clapping of handsand jerky dances.

T H A V A L A K A L I

Thavalakali i s atribal dance in which anumber of participants,usually boys, jump oneabove the other insuccession, imitating theleaps of the frog.

EDAYA NRITHAM

Edaya nritham isthe dance of the tribalshepherds. Both men and women participate. One of the shepherds sing. This is repeated inchorus by all the rest. As the singing is going on, one of them imitates the special sounds ofshepherds driving their sheep. The dance as such consists of someone of the group tryingsuccessively to imitate the wild animals that try to attack the sheep and also the thief who tries torobe them while the other members of the group very adeptly bring out the terror on the faces ofthe lambs and their mournful wailings.

NAIKKAR KALI

This is popular among the tribes in Wyanad and Malappuram districts. It is more ritualisticthan entertainment oriented. This is performed as pooja to family deities and during marriages.

When the instruments, Thappu and Kuzhal start playing, the naikars begin theirperformance. With jingling anklets round their legs, they dance round in clock-wise and anti-clockwise movements to the accompaniment of the instruments. In between they shout ‘HoyHoy’.

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GADHIKA

Gadhika is a ritual dance performed by Adiya tribes of Wayanad district. The art form ismeant to cure ailments. The performance is also done as part of a ritual for having a safe deliveryof child.

Gadhika begins with theprincipal performer invokinglord Siva for his help to curethe patients. Central to theritual is the belief that a personfalls sick when the gods areangry. The prayers are in astrange dialect, which has apronounced Kannada diction.Once Lord Siva was broughtdown to earth and he was

pleaded by invocations of the worshippers. Theother gods, goddesses were enrolled by theperformance. These gods include Chamundi,Maniamma, Malankali (Siva) and Karimkali.Simultaneously other actors dressed in colourfulcostumes also move centralistic which is titledwith a small structure that resembles a temple.The participants include men dressed as womenwhose function is to welcome the gods andgoddesses arriving in response to the summons from Siva.

Gadhika is usually performed during the month of Mithunam which falls in June-Julyperiod. The participants go to houses from which they had received invitations, conduct rituals,collect the oblations and offer them to gods at a ceremony conducted on the banks of a river.

N A T U G A D H I K A

POOJA G A D H I K A