A FOLK EXPRESSION FROM PARAYA COMMUNITY POORAM ,THALAPPOLI, KALAVELA OR TEMPLE FESTIVALS Kerala has been blessed with the presence of sacred groves and temples. The pooram, Thalappoli or Vela,is synonyms with the ritualistic annual temple festival.The festivals usually fall in Dhanu ,Makaram,Kumbham and Meenam the months of malayalam calander. .After the harvesst,.people are ready to offer their share to gracious dieties who protect them.Probably,. a number of ritual art forms and celebrations are born in this way .
Pakkanar thottam in progress in earattingal colony PAKKANAR CULT As per theParayipettaPanthirukulam legend Agnihothri, the elder brother of Pakkanaar insisted Pakkaanaar and his descendents of Paraya community to present their ritualistic folk arts in the temple festivals in the region where the myth was originated.Pakkanar the legendary figure is supposed to be the second offspring of vararuchi the astrologer of vikramaditya. Paakkanar colony or earattingal colony is situated very close to Thrithala town. Families of Pakkanar lineage have the colony in 18 houses. The folk expressions of paraya community add charm to the local temple festivals in this region where Pakkanar cult still prevails. When the Thidambu (the large pluque) of the devi is alighted from the elephants back after the (afternoon) Ezhunnellippu on the pooram day. It is believed that the spirit of the devi of that temple visits the Keezhkaaavu or thaazhekkavu. Keezhkkavu is a platform usually located in stubbled paddy field were flags and festoons are hung to mark the place.
paratheyyams or parappoothans on their way to kavu FOLK EXPRESSIONS OF PARAYA COMMUNITY The folk items of the Paraya community march towards keezhekkavu after respecting the temple diety at Melekkaavu.The Velichappadu, Paratheyyam or Parappoothan , Mookkan chathan, Thitherakkuda and other ritualistic presentations coming together in a grand procession, is really a spectacular delight.The performers through appropriate costumes assume the role of divinities they hold in veneration.
kuthira is carried by the young folks of the region THE VELICHAPPADU ON KUTHIRA (THE DUMMY HORSE ) The velichappadu who represents the bhagavathy reaches the temple premises on a kuthira, a huge dummy horse. The dummy horse is carried on the shoulders of youth’s of that Thattakam (region).Though theKuthira may vary in shape in different temples of Thrithala region, it is quiet different from the well decorated motif horses of Aryankaavu, Chinakkathur kaavu and Machad mamankam.The skeleton is made up of bamboo poles. Dried plantain leaves are used to design the body. They use Indian coral tree trunk to carve the head and is usually painted white. It is draped with red cotton cloth or pattu. Velichappadu wavering pallival (curved sacred sword) and chilambu (heavy anklet) receives offering and bestows blessings on the behalf of the deity.
theru in Amakkavu temple koottanad The next Karanavar of Paraya community may appear in the theru (chariot) to bestow blessings. It is topless palanqeen usually made up of bamboo poles and decorated bamboo mats. MULLAPPANTHAL
elder member of the woman folk provides company for devi. A mullappanthal has nothing to do with mulla the jasmine flower. Its nothing but auspicious space blessed with devis presence.A Mullappanthal is designed using tender coconut leaves (kuruthola) and bamboo poles. The elder member of the women folk of the Pulaya community waits there to receive devi who reaches there on that day when the drums and Marams break 8 sides (Ashtadikku) of theThattakam with reverberations. The chief landlord of that locality offers a’ Katta during the harvest ‘and to ensure prosperity each of the farmer of that region collects a spike of grain from the woman who sits in mullappanthal.
FOLK PRESENTATION FROM PARAYA COMMUNITY Thus the Kuthira ,Theru, Paratheyyam or Parappoothan, Mookkonchathan and Unnikkalas add richness to the temple festival.Primitive men might have begun to worship the divinity of nature itself and the seasonal changes, to have some control over terrifying unknown forces of nature.These searches might have resulted in definite reward .its certain that the Paraya community of this region plays a vital role in making the festival reflect the primal rhythm and the rhythm of rural life.The drumbeats, the hoots of joy and the shouts of kaalakali (kaalavela) merge together. We feel that we’ve reached in a primitive cosmic world of ecstatic experience after travelling many years back in time.
Kanakkaravil pooram in malappuram dist.