Kumarakom is noted for a large number of amusements and festivities. The Utsavams or festivals conducted in temples and Perunal festivals in Christian churches stand out as the most spectacular of such festivities. There are 10 temples and 7 churches in this small village. All conduct annual colorful festivals.
The Utsavam in Hindu temple is a big event in the social and religious life of the people and all kinds of pastimes and entertainments are held in the temples during the seasons. The most important of the temple pastimes are Kathakali, Harikatha (story telling about God), Ottam thullal (a kind of dance), Panchavadyam (an orchestra of 5 types of musical instruments), Chendamelam (playing on the drums), Thayampaka (playing on different types of drums) and Nagaswaramelam (playing musical pipe).
Kathakali literally meaning `story play’, is a classical dance-drama based on Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha as well as the Puranas.
The peculiarity of the play is that the actors do not speak. They merely act dialogic sections called padams through appropriate symbols (Mudras) and facial expressions as singers sing the songs from behind. Through gestures, both facial and with hands by the actor brings the narrative to life. Rather than voice, it is hands and the face that tell the story.
The characters with their extravagant costumes and their excessive gestures may appear unreal, yet they portray a reality all too evident in human nature, its frailties as well as its morality.
Kathakali Kumarakom
In recent times, several changes have been made to prevent the decline of Kathakali. Performances are made short. Women and lower castes once denied participation now perform and a wider audience has been accessed, nationally and internationally. The Biblical stories Shakespearian Dramas and many new stories were presented in Kathakali. With its transition to the large stage, its appeal has widened, but its supporters hope it will retain its traditional base, steeped in culture and aesthetics.
Intensive training, often for six years, is necessary to perform Kathakali. Kerala Kalamandalam at Thrissur provide training to full time students in Kathakali.
Harikatha is performance in which a single actor explains and interprets epic stories with musical overtones. It was a very popular form of art presented in temple festivals in Kerala.
Ottam thullal is a sort of dance drama in which one actor narrates epic stories in poetical form with the accompaniment of musical drum (mrudangam)
and cymbals. The facial features and gestures are similar to those in Kathakali, except that, the actor hops and dances wherever necessary, while narrating the story. The author of the poetical form of stories for Ottam thullal is said to be Kunjan Nambiar who lived in 18th century.
Panchavadyam or the playing of the five instruments (Maddalam, Timila, Edakka, Sankhu and Elathalam) are usually played at the time of the Deeparadhana in temples and during processions. They
Ottan Thullal Kumarakom
are played particularly during the big Utsavams in temples in order to provide entertainment to the audiences. In panchavadyam there is a synchronization of sound emanating from all the five instruments in varying pitches. One avarthana lasts for hours, with climaxes and anticlimaxes.
Chendamelam is supposed to express the all-powerful nature of the supreme Lord and is usually played in connection with all the temple festivals. It may be mentioned that Christians also resort to Chendamelam in connection with the perunnals in their churches.
Thayambaka, a classical piece of drum, is another temple vadya of Kerala that thrills audiences during festivals. As in panchavadyam, in thayambaka also one session lasts for hours, with several climaxes and anticlimaxes.
Nagaswaramelam, is another set of vadyams prescribed for use during the main Pooja in the temples. It is also played on such auspicious occasions as marriages.
Chavittunadakom : A typical pastime or entertain-ment of the Christians is the Chavittunadakam, which is almost defunct now. It arose as a Christian alternative to the Hindu Kathakali. As Kathakali is concerned with the presentation, masses were not enthused or benefited. As the art of Kathakali was slowly evolving itself in Kerala, the
leaders of the Christian church and community, assisted by foreign missionaries, evolved a new art which sought to present Biblical or Christian stories to sustain the interest of the Christian audiences. This new art came to be known as Chavittunadakom. Two Christian scholars from Tamilnad by name Chinnathampi Pillai and Vedanayakam Pillai contributed to its development in the early stages. Though evolved as an alternative to Kathakali, the Chavittunadakam was modelled more on the European Opera than on Kathakali. If in Kathakali the actor impresses the audience with suitable gestures or mudras made by the hand, the actor in Chavittunadakam acts and stamps on the stage with his feet to the tune of songs and the beating of drums. It is because stamping and acting form the most essential features of the art that it has come to be called Chavittunadakam (Chavittu means stamping with the feet and Nadakam drama). It is also nicknamed
Thattupolippan (Platform-breaker) after the unusually loud noise, not very pleasant to the ears, produced by continuous stamping by the actors on the specially improvised wooden platform on which the play is staged. It may be noted that unlike Kathakali, Chavittunatakam is not a dumb-drama. The actors in the latter both speak and sing. Music, vocal and instrumental, acting, stamping, dancing and dialogue are all equally important elements in it. The themes are drawn mainly from the lives of Christian Saints and from the history of Christianity. One of the most popular stories presented by Chavittunatakam troupe was that of the career and achievements of Charlemagne (768-814), the great Holy Roman Emperor. This art, which was at one time popular among the Christians, has languished and almost become extinct owing to want of proper encouragement. Still there are one or two Chavittunatakam troups in this District even now.
Apart from the religious and quasi-religious pastimes and festivities described above, there are some, which are more secular in character. Panthukali a kind of native football, is an out-door game. Kuttiyum kolum, Kaikottikali, Kolattam and Vattukali are pastimes popular with women and girls. Swinging on Oonjal is a favourite pastime indulged in by the Hindu women during theOnam and““ Thiruvathira seasons.
Mention may also be made in this connection of the Vallom kali or boat race, which is a characteristic festival of Central Kerala. The most famous of the boat festivals is held in the neighboring District of Alleppey. Colorful boat races are held in different parts of Kerala during the Onam celebrations in Chingam (August-September) and they attract mammoth crowds. Several specially decorated Valloms or boats participate in them. Each of them is given a name and the boat that wins the race is awarded a Trophy. The members of the Vala, Ezhava, Pulaya and Christian communities have particularly distinguished themselves in this game. There are also certain folk songs, especially composed in a particular tune called Vanchipattu sung by the boatmen on such occasions.
Public Games and Recreation Clubs
Most of the traditional pastimes and games, religious and quasi-religious, described earlier are witnessed mainly during national festivals like Onam and religious festivals like Utsavams. The advanced and educated sections of the society have taken to modern recreations and games, which owe their origin to the influence of western civilization. The cinema has now established itself everywhere as the most popular form of entertainment. The most important of the public games played out doors for recreation are football, volleyball, cricket, hockey, tennis, badminton, basketball, ring tennis, etc.
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