Kolkkali

Kolkali is a group dance form of mainly the farming community but farmers and all villagers celebrate the festival together but Kolkkali is more popular among Muslim men. There are two types of  Kolkkali. One is Kadathanadan style which is related to martial art and the other is Mappila or Muslim Kolkkali. It is a mixed dance in which both men and women participate Kolkkali is a highly rhythmic dance with the dancers wielding short sticks. The rhythm of this dance is set by a harmonious synchronisation of the tapping of the feet to the striking of sticks. The movement is circular and the artists sing as they dance and strike the sticks in unison. The circle expands and contracts as the dance progress. The accompanying music gradually rises in pitch and the dance reaches its climax. Though the dancers break away to form different patterns, they never miss a beat. In Malabar, Kolkkali is more popular among Muslim men. Sometimes it is performed on a specially constructed wooden stage .Thus the name thattinmelkali.Kolkali is performed mainly by the agrarian classes. Musical instruments used are Chanda, Elathalam, Mathalam and Changila. Usually it is presented once in a year after paddy harvest during the Month of April. Payyanur Kolkkali is related to the first style and is more attractive with its body control, swift twisting of wrists, smart and speedy body movements according to the songs. The participants of Payyanur Kolkkali are all male members wearing identical dress mostly Mundu or dhoti and banyans holding two stick measuring fifteen inches in both hands. These sticks are made from Areca. These men move around a Nilavilakku which is the traditional lighted lamp repeating the song sung by the main singer resulting a rhythmic sound. The songs are mainly devotional songs but songs of social reformation are also included. The players should have to listen carefully to the songs because the instruction for turning, sitting and moving are given in between the songs. The players have to go through strenuous training for swift body and wrist movements otherwise body injury can occur.