Tholppavakoothu
Literally
meaning 'leather puppet play', Tholppavakkoothu is a ritual art performed during
the annual festivals in the Kaali temples of Palakkad district. The text of
the play is based on the Kamba Ramayana, narrated in a diction that is a mixture
of Malayalam and Tamil dialectical variations.
The play covers the whole gamut of events from Lord Rama's birth to his coronation
as the King of Ayodhya. The show is enacted on the 'Koothumadom', a specially
constructed oblong playhouse.
The puppets are fashioned out of the hides of buffaloes and deer, the former
for evil characters and latter for noble ones. Each puppet has an average height
of 80 cms and is cut out in different postures.
The puppets are arranged behind a long white curtain, which is stretched across
the Koothumadom. Behind this, on a split bamboo pole, is placed a row of wick
lamps inside coconut halves.
The light from these lamps cast the glowing silhouettes of the puppets on the
white curtain. The chief puppeteer is known as 'Pulavan'. At present, this ritual
art is confined to Ottappalam and Kavalappara in Palakkad district.
Dances in Kerala
Kathakali
|| Koothu
|| Chavittunatakom
|| Oppana ||
Valakkali
|| Mohiniyattam
|| Paana || Kolkkali
|| Thiruathirakkali
|| Tholppavakoothu
|| Krishnanattom
|| Kakkarissi
Natakom || Thullal
|| Kootiyattom
|| Duffmuttu
