Tribal art forms coming to regale spectators at arts festival

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This time, arts will come to the stage from the forests to celebrate the fest. Mangalamkali, Malapulaya Attam, Paliya Nritham and Paniya Nritham, which were performed only in Adivasi ooru (tribal villages), are coming to the arenas. This is how this year's art festival is going down in history. Mangalamkali will be the first to reach the stage.

Today at Nishagandi, children will dance with palm tree spathe tied on their heads singing 'Ellulleri Ellulleri..."'. In Mangalamkali, girls wear thorthu, blouse and saffron mundu. Black earrings and four bangles as accessories. There will be no makeup other than the bindi on the face. Boys will wear only a saffron mundu.

Mangalamkali is a dance performed by the Mavilan community of Kasaragod during celebrations like weddings. Thudi is the main instrument. Two Thudis are used namely Perunthudi and Panathudi. Six people will sing playing the Thudi while 10 people dance in a circle. The songs are in Tulu and Malayalam.

Malapulaya Attam with lightning steps

The highlight of Malapulaya Attam is the lightning steps accompanied by the music from chikku vadyam, kittumutti, kuzhal and kattavadyam. Occasionally there will be ululation. It is a traditional dance form of the Malapulaya sect of the Marayoor forests. It is performed as part of the worship of goddesses Kaliamman, Mariamman and Madurai Meenakshi.

Irula Dance from Attapadi

The lyrics of the song from the movie 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum' will be the first thing that comes to watching Irula dance.

It is a dance form of the Irula tribe, a tribal group of Attapadi. The dance is performed in a special rhythm with the accompaniment of Perai, Davil, Jalra and Kogal instruments played in a circle. The Paniya dance belongs to the Paniya community of Wayanad. It comes in two forms, Kambala Natti and Vattakkali.