UTSAVAM 2010-11 – Festival of Folk Art and Dance of Kerala
UTSAVAM 2010-11 Festival of Folk Art and Dance of Kerala
Kerala God's Own Country, is rich in its culture, its folk lore, with each region has its own art forms. Most of the art forms are very colourful and is important in their own manner. Folk dances and songs are not recorded any where it is just passed on to the people, generation after generation. But , in modern times most of the Folk and tribal art dances are in the verge of extinction. The Kerala Tourism Promotion Council, to promote and popularise the rich, cultural heritage & folk dances organises Utsavam every Year during the month of December to February.
The Official inauguration of this festival this year happened on 12th December2010. Utsavam festival focuses on providing a cultural fest of folk dances which are less popular and which are in the verge of extinction. In the Utsavam, one can witness the wide variety and richness of Kerala Folk art forms. Utsavam 2010-2011 has 370 programmes ranging from Folk, Ritual, Tribal and Classic art forms of Kerala, happening on 14 districts in 42 venues and goes upto February 2011.
Here is a glimpse of the some of the Folk Art forms
Padayani: This is a ritual festival performed during the months of February, March and April at Badhrakali temples of central Kerala. This is a temple festival art form celebrated to please Goddess Kali to bring prosperity, good crops, and to eradicate all evil effects of wicked deities. This art form is accompanied with Thappu and Chenda.
Poorakkali: This is a traditional art form performed in Bagavathy temples across the Northern Malabar of Kerala. Payyanur, Trikarippur, Vengara and Aravath are places famous for this traditional art form. Poorakkali is aspring festival, performed for nine days i.e., from Karthika to Pooram star in the month of Meenam (March April)every year. A group of 12 to 18 Men perform this traditional dance with vibrarnt steps and movements of the body in a circle with Nilavilakku (traditional Lamp) in the centre. There is no singers or drums, the men claps with rhythmic foot movements.
Nadan Pattukal: These are folk songs of day to day activities, marriage, culture and landscapes of Kerala which are not recorded but passed on to generation though word of mouth. This has a history of some 600 years and has undergone many changes with the course of time. Krishi pattu, Koythu pattu, Vadakkan pattu, Mappila pattu come under this genre.
Mangalam Kali: The term Mangalam means marriage, hence this dance asscoaited with marriage. This is a tribal art form, present among the tribes of Mavila-Vettuva Tribes. In Mangala Kalai, around 30 dancers perform dace to the rhythm of the "thudi" in a circle. This is usllay perfvormed during night and go upto the dawn
Margam Kali: Margom Kali is a traditional dance form practiced by Syrian Christians. This is believed to be derived from "Sangom Kali" . Margom Kali songs depicts the deeds and sacrifice of St Thomas in Kerala. The word Margom mean Path, here this has reference till recently embracing the faith of Christianity was known as Margom Koodal. Thus this dance from got the name as this depicts the ways of life of St Thomas, who belived to have sailed to India in 52 A.D and spread Christianity.
/>Utsavam 2010-2011 also depicted the classical dances of Kathakali and Mohini Attam
Kathakali: Kathakali is the traditional classical art form, believed to be originated during 17th century. Katha means Story, Kali means play. This traditional dance form is noted for its colourful and elaborate attire and makeup. The costumes and make up differ as per the characters. It is Pachha (green for satwik characters like hero) Kathi (knife) for characters like warriors, villain etc; minukku (glitter) for depicting female characters. Thadi (Beard) generally red & black are used to depict characters of evil , demon shrewd person. While white thadi is used for depicting saint sages. This dance performance is accompanied by two singers and instruments such as chenda, chengila ilathalam, maddhalam, idakka.
Mohini Attam: This classical art form of Kerala is slow graceful dance performed by women in single or in group. The essence of mohini attam has reference to the legend of Lord Maha Vishnu as "Mohini" (the enchantress) in Hindu Mythology. The female dancers perform slow graceful movements of body in sync with hands and eyes giving a feast to our eyes. This is based on Lasyam meaning delicate graceful dance where the performer uses the eyen in bashful yet sensual manner to enchant the mind of the onlooker.
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