MUDIYETTU
- ART AND CULTURE
News:
Mudiyettu: Kerala’s
Unique Ritualistic Dance-Drama Tradition
What's
in the news?
●
Kerala, India’s southwestern state, is
well-known for its rich cultural heritage.
●
The traditional art form Mudiyettu is one
of the most intriguing and unique aspects of Kerala’s cultural tapestry.
Key
takeaways:
●
This ritualistic
dance-drama tradition has captivated audiences for centuries with its
vibrant performances and intricate narratives, which are deeply rooted in the
state’s folklore and mythology.
Mudiyettu:
●
Mudiyettu is a ritual dance drama from the
state of Kerala.
Features:
●
It is based on the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon
Darika.
●
It is a community ritual and generally the
whole village participates.
●
Mudiyettu performers purify themselves
through fastings and prayers.
●
After that they draw a huge image of
goddess Kali also called as kalam on the temple floor with coloured powders.
●
Through this they invoke the spirit of the
goddess.
Performed
by:
●
Mudiyettu is performed annually in ‘Bhagavati Kavus’ which are
the temples of the goddess in different villages along the rivers called
Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and Moovattupuzha.
Significance:
●
The important aspect of this ritual is
Mutual cooperation and collective participation of each caste which instils and
strengthens common identity and mutual bonding in the community.
●
Responsibility for the transmission of the
ritual lies with the elders and senior performers to engage the younger
generation as apprentices during the course of the performance.
●
Mudiyettu also serves as an important
cultural site for transmission of traditional values, ethics, morals and also
aesthetic norms of the community to the next generation.
UNESCO
Recognition:
●
It is also inscribed on the UNESCO representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.