Poorakkali - 1

Poorakkali is a ritual art form of Kerala. This dance is performed as a ritual at many temples dedicated to Goddess Devi in the Kannur and Kasaragod districts of the state. Only men do the dance and the performance is around a lighted traditional lamp. The dance is performed for nine consecutive days between the Karthika and Pooram asterisms, in the month of Meenam (that falls between March and April) in the Malayalam calendar. The venues are Pandals or thatched marquees set up in the temple premises.

Usually men of certain communities such as Thiyyas, Yadavas, Mugayar, Mukkuvas Kammalas and Chaliyas play this dance.

Pooramala or the performance repertoire of Poorakkali is classified into eighteen Nirams according to the Raaga. Rhythmic steps and clapping are the features of this dance.

Legend
There are several mythological versions about the origin of this dance. One of them is related to Lord Shiva. When Kamadeva, the cupid, disturbed Lord Shiva’s meditation the latter opened his fierce third eye and burnt Kamadeva into ashes. Lord Vishnu found a way out to save the world from the resultant plight. According to this, six beautiful damsels each danced in the three worlds viz., Heaven, Earth and Hades to make the Lord happy. Poorakkali is a commemoration of this dance, according to this myth. Another version attributes the origin of the dance to Lord Krishna.

Performance
In this excerpt the dancers praise Lord Krishna. ‘O, Narayana, I pray…Lord who sleeps over the ocean…who was born to Devaki and Vasudeva…grew up in Ambadi…who stole milk, curd and butter…’