Kalampattu

Kalampattu is also known as Kalamezhuthupattu. This too is more popular in north Kerala where it originated 600 years back. The performance is by a group of 5 to 15 artists and the venue is Bhadrakali and Ayyappa temples. A kolam or an elaborate picture of Bhadrakali with five colours is drawn on the floor and the performance of the rituals is done around it. The performance lasting a full night gets through in the light of temple torches. The women singers wear their hair on one side of the head. The nanthuni which is a string instrument and elathalam are the musical instruments used.

The Kalam in the Kali cult, denotes a floor painting of the goddess. Before the form of the goddess is painted, a Chakra in the tantrik structure is drawn using two colours, white and yellow made respectively of rice and turmeric flour. On the north eastern corner is the place in which the image of Kali is proposed to be drawn. At the centre of this drawing, a bronze oil lamp is lit in the belief that with the lighting of the lamp on the Chakra, the goddess has made her divine presence at the spot. Before the lamp is placed on the floor a plantain leaf with offerings to the goddess like paddy, rice, coconut etc is placed. Painting the image of the goddess, using herbal and grain powders of different kind is a consummate art. The Kalampattu begins with the beginning of the Kalam itself. The Brahmin priest is assigned the privilege of doing the first special puja of the image before the onset of the Kalampattu.

Related Topics
Folk Art Forms   Theyyam   Kunhi Theyyam   Kaliyoottu   Kavadiyattam   Kummattikali   Kuthiyottam   Sarpapattu   Thidampunrittam   Mayilnrittam   Padayani   Pulikali   Margamkali   Cherumarkali   Mudiyettu   Arjuna Nritham   Kannyarkali   Theeyattu   Paana   Tholpavakoothu