GARUDAN THOOKAM

GARUDAN THOOKAM

This dance form is presented in some temples where the installed deity is Badrakali. Two or three dancers in the garb of Gardua, dance of the rhythm of percussion instruments. In imitation of Garuda (the bird king) the dangers preen the feathers with their breaks, carry snakes in the beak, dance with wings spread in circles, in an ecstacy of joy

THOOKKAM

THOOKKAM

After worshipping the deity the performers gets over a one wheeled platform over which is the pillar like utholakam. There is a hook at one end of the utholakam to which is attached the backside skin of the dancer. This end is then raised up. Hooked to the utholakam, the dancer is thus suspend in the air almost horizontally in which posture he executes certain physical feats and dance movements and the whole platform is taken round the temple deity thrice

Bhadrakāli Tīyāttu [

Bhadrakali Tiyyattu is a ritualistic dance normally performed in Bhadrakali temples, mostly in the Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta districts. Pallippurathu Kavu at Kottayam (family temple of Kottarathil Sankunni) and Vanarkavu at Madakkathanam, near Thodupuzha, are two of the places where tiyyattu is performed during annual festivals. It is also performed as an offering at temples and houses.

The performance has three parts - preparation of the kalam (Kalamezhuthu), singing songs in praise of Bhadrakali and the performance of the dance. Kalamezhuthu is done during the day using natural coloured powders on the floor. An elaborate picture of Bhadrakali is normally made. The singing of the songs take place after the Kalamezhuthu is finished in front of it and may last up to three hours. For the dance a male member dresses up as Bhadrakali, a creation of Shiva. In the performance she is just back from killing Darika and is telling the events to Shiva who is symbolised by the lighted lamp. As she was affected by small pox and has pockmarks on her face she has her back to the lamp almost throughout the performance.

Different Types of KALAM

1. Bhadrakali Kalam
2. Artist drawing Kalam
3. Bhadrakali Kalam with 32 hands
4. Bhadrakali Kalam with 16 hands
5. Bhadrakali Kalam with 8 hands

Bhadrakali of 64 hands with Vethalam

 Completed Bhadrakali of 64 hands with Vethalam

Kalamezhuthu

Kalamezhuthu is a ritual connected with drawing on the floor for seasonal festivals in shrines. Kalam falls under the category of Dhooli chitram (drawings, with coloured powders). Men from certain communities draw Kalam, an elaborate picturesque design. Drawing telltale, stylised figures of gods and demons for temple festivals, is part of the mystical rhythm of our folk traditions. The carpet-like designs are made of herbal powders. The colours used are white, black, yellow, green and ochre that give a rare vitality with shades of old world magic associated with primitive religions. In Kerala, ritualistic festivals begin from the Malayalam month of Vrihchikam continue through the harvest seasons until the pre- monsoon showers. 

The art of creating very large pictures on floor, with coloured powders have been in vogue for ages as a ritual art form. It is typically Indian as it is a harmonic blend of Arian, Dravidian and Tribal traditions. As an art form it has found a significant place among our rich spectrum of fine arts. In most other parts of India this art exists as a domestic routine of Hindus, who consider it auspicious to draw certain patterns at the door step and courtyard to welcome a deity into the house. It is called by names like Rangoli, Kolam etc. 

Godly Vehicles

Godly Vehicles

The Hindu gods and goddesses use their own vehicles to travel. These vehicles actually represent the various energies that exists in the universe as well as in human beings. Each god or goddess is in-charge of a particular energy which he or she rides and controls at his or her will.
Ganesha - Mooshika the Mouse
Brahma - Hamsa when sitting or Seven swans
Vishnu - Garuda, the eagle and Adi Shesha, the Serpent
Shiva - Nandi, the Bull
Saraswathi - Hamsa or swan or sometimes peacock
Lakshmi - Lotus flower when seated and the owl
Durga or Parvati - Tiger or Lion
Yama - Buffalo
Adityas / Sun God - Seven horses / Agni
Indra - Elephant Airavata
Varuna - Seven Swans
Vayu - Thousands of horses

melparampathu Ulsavam

മേല്പരമ്പത്    ഉത്സവം  ചില ഫോട്ടോസ്

Customs In Temples

Customs In Temples
In majority of the temples in Kerala non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the area of sanctum sanctorum. However, in many temples there is no objection for non-Hindus entering inside the outer-walls of the temple. Once inside the outer-walls, standing in the Nadapura (sheltered front path) on can see the deity in the sanctum sanctorum.
Ladies during menstruation period are strictly prohibited entering even the premises of the temples. Likewise, if a death is occurred in the family, the blood relatives of the deceased are forbidden visiting temples during the mourning period of 14 days.
Male devotees entering the sanctum sanctorum are required to be bare-bodied. They can fling their shirt on the shoulder or hand. There is no objection in wearing pants or shorts. Wearing caps is disallowed. Smoking is also there in the prohibited list.
No footwear is allowed even inside the outer walls. However, socks have no bar.

In most of the temples the circumambulating path of the sanctum sanctorum and the outer temple are granite-laid.