Margamkali

This art form is popular among the Syrian Christians of Kerala. Twelve persons sing and dance around a nilavilakku or the traditional lamp with eleven burning wicks. The lamp represents Christ and the performers, His twelve disciples. Margamkali is a slant imitation of Sangamkali. The Christian soldiers used to pass time engaged in Margamkali and the subject usually is the arrival of Mar Thoma and his efforts to convert other people to Christianity in Kerala. The word `Margam` means path or way, religion or creed. The real source of inspiration for the performance of Margam Kali was Kalaripayattu, which was very popular when the Christian community had developed the form. This dance consists of several other group dances and martial arts like Parichamuttu Kali. The theme of the songs revolves around the life of St. Thomas and his contribution. Margam Kali dance was actually developed for propagating the Christian religious ideas among the people. The dancers play in a circle around the lighted oil lamp while singing but there are no musical instruments to accompany the music. The leader of the troupe or tutor known as `Asan` leads the song and the group repeats the same. The language used in the songs of Margam Kali reveals its relation with the old Tamil form. Margamkali is also performed by the women folk. The costume is the traditional chattayum mundum of the Christian community