Thiruvathira:A Blend of Rhythm and Grace
Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.In the month of Makaram Thiruvathira Star is celebrated in Mathira Peedika Devi Temple, owned by Thiruvithamcore Devaswom Board, near Kadakkal in Kollam District of Kerala state.Thiruvathira has a connection with lord moon.It takes place on the full moon night in the Tamil month of Marghazi (December–January) and this is also the longest night in a year.Literary and historical evidence in the form of stone inscriptions state that the festival has been celebrated on this day for more than 1500 years. Lord Shiva is praised in Tamil by many names, one of them is Athiraiyan from Thiruvathira.
The month of Dhanu in the Malayalam almanac has always been synonymous with Thiruvathirakali, Kerala’s traditional folkdance form performed by women. Believed to owe its origins to the festival of Thiruvathira that falls in the month of Dhanu, Thiruvathirakali is one of the earliest forms of group dances performed by women in Kerala.
For Guru Nirmala Paniker, the month of Dhanu in the Malayalam almanac has great significance. The eminent Guru of Mohiniyattam who has made considerable contributions to the advancement of Kerala’s indigenous dance form, Nirmala has also delved into the origins of Thiruvathirakali as part of her quest on women’s dance forms in Kerala.
Thiruvathirakali has very different styles in South and North Kerala. The Southern style has more evolved and complicated variations such as Kolaattam in which women hold small sticks in their hands and the sticks are struck against each other, Thalam Vechattam, where women dance with small brass plates (thalam) in their hands, Kudam Vechattam, in which the performers carry a small pot (kudam) on their heads while dancing and Pinnalaattam, performed either in specially constructed sheds or under trees if it is performed in the open air.
In this form, strings are tied from the pole of the shed or from the branch of the tree and are held by the performers. Beautiful patterns are woven with the strings as the women move in tandem, holding the strings in their hands.
The roots of this ancient dance form as well as the ritual of Thiruvathira could be traced to the Sangham period.
Many literary works from the Sangham period contain references to similar rituals observed by women and young girls, accompanied by dance and music.the historical evolution of Kerala’s indigenous dance forms like Mohiniyattam and Thiruvathirakali, is of the opinion that stylised footwork and gait of Mohiniyattam can be traced back to Thiruvathirakali.
However, the art form has moved away from its original context in contemporary society, with the disappearance of joint families and the agrarian life style. Thiruvathirakali now survives mainly because of the competitions in school and college youth festival circuits.
