Parichamuttukali
Parichamuttu Kali ([Malayalam]: പരിചമുട്ട്കളി ) is an Indian martial-arts dance form of Kerala practiced by the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.[1][2][3] It is performed by men bearing swords and shields and follows the movements and steps of Kalarippayattu.
Etymology
The first term in the name is a compound of the Malayalam words paricha, shield, and muttuka, bring them close to each other.[4] The second part, kali, means "play".
History
The origin of the art can be traced back to ancient days when Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala, was in vogue.[5] Though it was not until the 16th century where the dance became fully differentiated from other forms of dance based on Kalari.[4] Originally, dances similar to parichamuttu kali were performed by Hindus in a religious context, but are considered nonreligious ceremonies by Christians.
Performance
The dancers are usually dressed in a white loin cloth with red wrist bands and sing in chorus as they dance. The performers dance with sword and shield in their hands. This garb and the movements of the dance are evocative of the dress and movement of Kalari.[6] The group is usually headed by a leader called Asan or chief around whom the rest of the dancers perform or who sings and chimes bells from the sidelines.[7] The dance used to be performed as a religious offering but is nowadays gaining popularity as a Syrian Christian entertainment art.[2] This is usually performed at special church gatherings and other special occasions such as Onam.[6]
The dance can range from tame and slow to wildly acrobatic with flips within a single performance as the pace is dictated by the rhythm of the music.
The songs sung during performances begin with a tribute to God and then moves to focus on another Christian topic. These often include praises of saints popular in Kerala such as St. George and St. Sebastian, among others.[4] In modern performances, the Asan is either singing outside of the circle of dance while the dancers process around a Nilavilakku, a brass oil lamp traditional in southern India. Parichamuttu kali emphasizes a radial symmetry as the dancers process about the center point of the circle.[6]
Current situation
Currently both Parichamuttukali and Margamkali are included in the State Youth Festival of Kerala. This makes these art forms a competitive item in the Four-tier system (i.e. School, Sub District, Revenue and State level) Youth festival.[2] The most popular locations for this dance as of 2013 are Kerala's southern districts of Kottayam and Ernakulam as well as Malappuram in the north.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Parichamuttukali". Kerala Tourism.
- ^ a b c "Margam Kali – History, Text, Lyrics, Theme, Early Reference and Modern Developments". 4 May 2009.
- ^ Kurian, Ciby. "Parichamuttukali : Christian folk art in Kerala-Cultural Analysis". Deva Matha College.
- ^ a b c "Parichamuttu Kali - a popular Christian Art forms | Artforms of Kerala | Christianity | Kerala Tourism". Christianity. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "The Syrian Christians of Kerala – Part 1". Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Parichamuttu Kali Dance, Folk Dance of Kerala".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
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