As the night deepens into an inky darkness of the night, the individuals of the village of Mujungavu close to Kumabala in Kasaragod, Kerala, collect round to observe the Bhoota Kola. The air is suļ¬used with anticipation and hope, for the Bhoota Kola is an oracle and prayers to it are believed to convey them fortune and relieve them of their issues.
The educated Bhoota Kola performer, in a possessed state, offers the solutions to the group and is revered because the manifestation of God himself. The ritual efficiency that begins within the night goes on into the early hours of the morning.
Performed within the open air, the Bhoota Kola comes within the varieties of Panchuruli, Kallurutti, Koragajja and so forth. Originally from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the northern elements of Kasaragod district, the Bhoota Kola has hanging similarities with Keralaās Theyyam, however have delicate diļ¬erences too.
The costumes of the Bhoota Kola are usually not as strikingly vibrant as these of the Theyyam. The Bhoota Kola performer is bedecked in an apparel totally made of intricately woven palm leaves.
The elaborate face portray, nevertheless, is much like Theyyam. The incantations the performer utters are in Tulu. The nema or kola (because the efficiency is known as) often includes a ļ¬erce dance accompanied by drums, music and different rituals.
Even for the ardent followers of Theyyam of Kerala, the Bhoota Kola from Tulu Nadu was not so acquainted till the discharge of the Kannada film Kantara, which introduced the much lessĀrecognized ritualistic artwork kind into the mainstream.
The Tuluvas, the individuals who communicate the Tulu language, consider in animism and the Bhoota Kola is carried out to invoke these spirits of Nature. The conventional proper to carry out the kola belong to the Nalike and Parava tribes of the area. A typical Bhoota Kola season begins in January and extends to May.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Varnara Panchuruli will get prepared for the Bhoota Kola ritual on the Mujungavu Kulal Banjan Kutumba Adhimoolasthana temple close to Kumbala in Kasaragod, Kerala.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
The Bhoota Kola performer, who’s revered because the manifestation of God, takes a second to finish a sacred ritual
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
A efficiency begins at night and goes on until the early hours. In this era, the performer dons a number of costumes, on this case, the shape of a boar.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
During the ritual, oracles name upon spirits and forecast occasions or act as ethical advisers.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Mukhathezhuthu is the intricate artwork of portray the faces of Theyyam performers.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Panchuruli performs an āexorcismā at Sri Karimchamundiyamma Devasthanam, Odayamchal in Kasaragod district.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
The Mookami Gulikan circumamulates the hearth earlier than getting into it at Mujungavu Kulal Banjan Kutumba Adhimoolasthana temple close to Kumbala in Kasaragod.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Kuppe Panchuruli stands in entrance of a makeshift shrine and narrates the historical past of the Panchuruli, the spirit of a wild boar, within the kind of songs.
