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New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
The return of Theeyattu: Pallipurathu Kavu rekindles an ancient fire
KOCHI: Amid the bustle of modern life, an ancient ritual art form is not just surviving but finding new life in a quiet pocket of Kottayam town. Theeyattu, a vibrant dance-drama traditionally performed within the hallowed confines of Bhadrakali temples, is witnessing a remarkable revival. Once a rare spectacle, this sacred performance now lights up the Pallipurathu Kavu in Kottayam almost every day, offering a vivid glimpse into Kerala's rich spiritual and artistic heritage. Theeyattu, which intricately narrates the ferocious battle between Goddess Bhadrakali and the demon Darikasura, culminating in the goddess' triumphant victory, is primarily known for its two forms: Bhadrakali Theeyattu and Ayyappan Theeyaattu. The Bhadrakali form, the focus of the revival, remains largely confined to a small geographical pocket stretching from Kottayam to Vaikom and is performed exclusively by the Theeyattunni community. The Ayyappan Theeyattu, which depicts the story of Lord Ayyappa, though has been much popular in the northern parts throughout. Sasidharan Sharma, a 70-year-old artist from the Theeyattunni community, corroborates this surge, stating, 'Earlier, there were only a few offerings at the temple, but now the Theeyattu offerings have gone up substantially. While 'Nadel Theeyattu' is performed on almost all days, an average of 60 'Valiya Theeyattu' performances are held at the temple a year.' Sharma, who has been consistently performing the ritualistic art at Pallipurathu Kavu since 2022, now stages an impressive 200 plays a year, a testament to the art form's renewed popularity. 'Bhadrakali Theeyattu is performed exclusively by a particular community — Theeyattunnis. Presently only four or five families are performing the art. This highlights the critical importance of temples like Pallipurathu Kavu in sustaining the artistic lineage,' he adds. 'Now on most days, offerings are being done at Pallipurathu Kavu,' observes writer Manoj Kuroor, also the head of the Malayalam Department at NSS College and a scholar deeply connected to Kerala's performing arts. 'People too have become much more religious, which drives the demand for these offerings.'
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Residents rally to protect crumbling Vazhi Ambalam in Kollam's Kareepra
KOLLAM: Once a vital rest stop for weary travellers under the Travancore dynasty, the more-than-a-century-old 'Vazhi Ambalam', a traditional roadside waiting shed, still stands in Kollam, albeit in a crumbling state. Alongside it lies a Chumaduthangi (load-relieving stone), a structure used by travellers to keep the heavy load they carried on their heads. An adjacent travellers' well, a crucial source of water in its time, is already in ruins. Located in the quiet village of Kareepra in Kollam, the Vazhi Ambalam is one of the few surviving examples of its kind. Locals, who still use it for shelter, are urging the authorities to restore it, saying it connects them to their roots and to a forgotten culture of communal travel. With the adjoining well lost to time, the decaying structure now stands as a symbol of neglected heritage - and a community's fight to preserve it. According to Suresh Madhav, a local historian and teacher at NSS College, Pandalam, the structure and its associated components might have been built during the reign of Travancore king Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma. 'Such structures were usually built by local landlords for travellers. Those days, everyone from royalty and priests to workers and traders travelled long distances. And these sheds served as essential resting places,' he said, adding that residents would often gather at the Vazhi Ambalam during leisure time. 'Kings even sent spies and police officials to these spots to gather intelligence. These are were not just shelters, they hold countless folklores and secrets of history. If we lose them, we lose an irreplaceable part of our past,' he said. It is said that during summer, various landlord families sponsored the distribution of sambharam (buttermilk) to travellers, who took shelter at the Vazhi Ambalam. Once thatched with coconut leaves, the shelter was later repaired with roof tiles, thanks to the residents. 'We have worked hard to keep it standing with the help of the community. The people and local authorities have promised to support its upkeep. It gives us hope for the future,' says Biju Madhusoodanan Pillai, a social activist and local resident. Residents also noted that the Vazhi Ambalam was built on the land belonging to the Kaduthanathu Valiya Madom family. 'Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma and his ministers used our ancestral home as a hideout when facing opposition from the Ettuveetil Pillamar, the powerful Nair nobles who once challenged Travancore's rulers,' said Vasudevan Potty, a family member and resident. 'Before reaching our house, the king and his ministers reportedly rested at this Vazhi Ambalam for a day. My forefathers recounted that although we were not a wealthy family, we sheltered and fed them. Even after all these decades, the structure remains, but its future is uncertain. Many today are unaware of its historical significance,' he said. P K Anil Kumar, the ward member of Kareepra panchayat, said the local body currently has no plans to allocate funds for the structure's maintenance. 'It is an important structure for us, and people are showing great enthusiasm for its preservation. But at present, the panchayat has no plans to allocate funds for maintenance. In the future, if necessary, I will do the needful,' he said.
