INTRODUCTION
The one thing that distinguishes Kerala women and their elegance is the traditional attire. Similarly, there is an iconic dance form that embodies their feminine attributes the folk dance Kaikottikali, also known as Thiruvathirakali. It is the most ancient ritualistic dance performance in Kerala. Hindu women traditionally perform this as a group dance. Kaikottikali, which means “dance with claps,” involves clapping the palms and clapping palms with fellow dancers. This dance form is ceremonially performed on the auspicious day of “Thiruvathira ” celebrated on the Thiruvathira star of the month of Dhanu (a full moon), according to the Malayalam calendar that falls between December 15 and January 15, hence Kaikottikkali is also known as Thiruvathirakali. The dance is also performed during the Onam festival, as well is also a competitive item in kaloltsavam.
TRADITION
According to mythology, the day when Lord Shiva appeared before Goddess Parvati, pleased with her penance to have Shiva as her husband, and he accepted Parvati as his wife, is celebrated as Thiruvathira. The Thiruvathira festival is also widely believed to be the birthday of Lord Shiva. On the eve of Thiruvathira, women perform Thiruvathirakali, a traditional dance aimed at attaining marital bliss. Various ritual practices are associated with this festival, though they can slightly differ across different regions of Kerala. Married women conduct these rituals for the long life of their husbands, while unmarried women partake in them to seek a good marriage. The first thiruvathira after marriage is called ‘poothiruvathira’.
Preparation for the festival begins several days in advance(makayiriam), starting with an early morning cold water shower, and women fast on the day of Thiruvathira, avoiding rice and heavy food. The eve of Thiruvathira is significant, as families stay awake throughout the night and perform several rituals. At night, women adorn their hair with special herbs called Dashapushpam (10 locally grown medicinal herbs) and chew betel leaves with areca nut, known as Thambulam or Murukkan, marking the start of the Thiruvathira celebration. The dance is part of the midnight ceremonies on Thiruvathira eve. The Thiruvathira Day celebration begins with the conclusion of the dance, followed by an early morning bath in ponds. The fasting starts with drinking tender coconut water and having a special breakfast
made with arrowroot powder. Participating in Thiruvathira rituals is believed to bring a healthy, happy, and long marital life for women.
Other than the Thiruvathira celebration, Kaikottikali (also known as Thiruvathirakali) is performed as entertainment by women on Onam day. This dance form is believed to have been primarily practiced by the elite upper-class Hindu communities, such as the Namboothiris, Nairs, and Ambalavasis. Kaikottikali is also performed on other occasions, including Namboothiri weddings. Historically, this dance was an integral part of the lifestyle of these communities, and as a result, there was no formal training system like those found in classical dance forms. Children learn by observing the dance from a young age, and as they reach their teenage years, they begin to dance alongside elders, thus continuing the tradition. Furthermore, Thiruvathira songs are often sung by older individuals in their homes.
PERFORMANCE
Kaikottikali is typically a female-oriented dance where eight to ten women stand in a circle with an oil lamp (Nilavilakku) at the center. The performance begins with a recital in praise of Lord Ganesha, who removes all obstacles, followed by a Saraswathi sthuthi (praising verses), as Saraswathi is the goddess of knowledge. This is succeeded by padams (songs), and toward the conclusion, there is a unique segment known as Kummi, which is a lively version, followed by the performance ending with the salutation part referred to as Mangalam. For the Thiruvathira celebration, the songs pertain to Lord Shiva and Parvati. However, some songs draw from other narratives in Hindu Puranas and honor various deities such as Krishna and Bhagavathi, or local gods. The vocalists initiate the song, and the dancers respond, starting the movements. The dance involves delicate footwork, including forward, backward, and sideways motions. Hand clapping, individually and with partners, along with specific steps like sitting on toes, bending the knees partially, quick yet understated jumps in a rhythmic manner, and shifts in positioning are characteristic movement patterns in the dance. The chenda, as well as edakka, accompanies the music sometimes. They also often use vanchipattu to add beauty to the dance.
MOTIFS
- Dress – Women wear traditional attire = Mundu and Neryathu, a pair of long cloths, one worn as the bottom cloth with a feet length, and the second one worn as an upper cloth. The dancers use traditional gold jewelry and adorn their hair buns with jasmine flowers and Tulsi. For Thiruvathira day, they also wear the ten herbs on their hair buns. Traditionally, no instruments are used for Kaikottikali other than cymbals, as the dance was not performed professionally but as part of family ceremonies. Thiruvathirakali has evolved from being an upper-class Hindu art to a typical representation of Kerala arts and festival culture. There are numerous public venues where performances happen frequently as part of special occasions, and women, irrespective of religion and caste, participate. Some
performers and troupes professionally provide training in Kaikottikali/Thiruvathirakali and Thiruvathira songs throughout Kerala.
- Food – Apart from this the women also prepare special food items that are made of traditional herbs with medicinal properties for fertility and sexual health. The food items are non-rice based, like puzhukk, Ettangadi, Arrowroot payasam, etc.
- Swing – After a leisurely lunch, women chew betel. Among high-caste women, there is a convention that each woman should chew 108 betel leaves. Then they move as a group for the Oonjalattom (swinging on an oonjal or swing). Though this swinging is an important item of amusement, it is said that it typifies the attempt these women make to hang themselves, commemorating the demise of Kama (Cupid). The swing is one Thiruvathira motif that’s missed by people nowadays.
CURRENT STATUS
The dance form of thiruvathirakali is still widely practiced in Kerala, and it has also been embraced by Malayali communities around the world. This art form is recognized as a competitive event in Kerala’s school festival, kaloltsav. Recently, the Kerala government organized a large-scale thiruvathira intending to set a Guinness World Record. Few scholars have argued that though this festival is often considered taboo-breaking as it gives the upper caste women a sense of freedom as the ritual demands the openness of night, the overall rituals are inherently patriarchal and dominating. Along with this, there are many stereotypes associated with this ritual, but the younger generations have accepted it, regardless of gender, and men also participate in thiruvathira for fun. Thiruvathira is more than just a typical dance form; it symbolizes the grace of women in Kerala.