Context: Recently, hundreds gathered at the Krishna Menon Museum and Art Gallery in Kozhikode, Kerala to witness the Kandakarnan Thira performance.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- Kandakarnan Thira Art form, Theyyam
About Kandakarnan Thira:
- It is a ritual dance and a part of the Theyyam art form which is primarily performed in the temples and groves in the Malabar region of Kerala.
- Theyyam (the dance of God) is a broad ritual dance form and living tradition practiced in Malabar region of Kerala. It involves worshipping deities through dance, drama, music, art and rituals.
- Kandakarnan Thira is a unique form of Thira dedicated to Kandakarnan, a fierce guardian deity, who is believed to protect humanity from diseases.
Who performs?
- The dance is performed by artists from the Malaya community, who are also known as "perumalayan".
What does it symbolise?
- The Kandakarnan Thira performance represents the survival of the human race from contagious diseases.
- The performer wears a headgear (crown) that is about 20 feet tall and has 16 torches attached to their hips. The performer's face also has marks left behind by smallpox.
What are the rituals?
The performance is often accompanied by musicians and takes place at night. The ritual involves invoking deities, walking on red-hot embers, and performing in sacred shrines and ancestral temples.