Poothan and Thira

2024-12-26T15:40:34Z

2409:40F4:38:B618:9186:6EE2:CF6E:79D3: small changes

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{short description|Indian folk dance}}
{{Infobox dance
|name=Poothan and Thira
|image=File:Poothan thira (1).jpg
|alt=
|caption=Poothan and Thira for the Machattu Mamangam festival.
|native_name= പൂതനും തിറയും (Malayalam)
|etymology=
|genre= Ritual
|signature=
|instruments=Thudi and Para
|inventor=
|year=
|origin=[[Kerala]], India
}}

'''Poothan and Thira''' is a [[ritual]]istic folk [[art]] performed mainly in the [[Kingdom of Valluvanad|Valluvanad]] region (present-day [[Palakkad district]]) of central [[Kerala]] in [[India]], in which people dance in costumes representing Poothan is the lieutenant of Kali, and Thira, the goddess [[Kali]], to the accompaniment of [[drum]]mers. Thudi a small drum using for poothan, and heavy drum para accompanying thira.

==Overview==
Poothan and Thira is a [[ritual]]istic folk [[art]] performed mainly in the [[Kingdom of Valluvanad|Valluvanad]] region of central Kerala] in India.<ref name="keralaculture">{{cite web |title=പൂതനും തിറയും - കേരളത്തിന്‍റെ അനുഷ്ഠാനകലകള്‍ {{!}} Poothanum Thirayum - Ritual art forms of Kerala |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/malayalam/puthanum-thirayum/72 |website=www.keralaculture.org |publisher=Department of Culture, Kerala state |language=ml}}</ref> It is a traditional art performed by the Perumannan and Vannan communities on the occasion of [[Devi]] temple festivals.<ref name="ManoramaOnline">{{cite news |title=ദൈവം മനുഷ്യ രൂപത്തിലെത്തുന്ന പൂതനും തിറയും; 'വള്ളുവനാടന്‍സ് മണ്ണാര്‍ക്കാട്' നിങ്ങളുടെ ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിലുമെത്തും |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/heritage-walk/2022/11/05/poothan-thira-ritual-to-move-out-on-demand.html |work=ManoramaOnline |agency=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref>

It is usually performed once a year in villages in conjunction with the Kali temple festivals mainly in the coastal areas and River Nila- especially in the ''[[Pooram]]'' festival season between December and May, [[Thalappoli]] festival and ''Vela'' festival.<ref name="keralaculture"/> In Valluvanad region, Poothan and Thira is performed in thousands of [[kavu]]s.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>

==Myth==
There are various myths are populat inconnection with Poothan and Thira. The story of [[Kannagi]] is popular in some regions.<ref name="Deshabhimani">{{cite news |title=തിറയും പൂതനും |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/special/news-14-10-2018/757527 |work=[[Deshabhimani]] |language=ml}}</ref>

It is believed that it was the Poothan that stood as a watchman to prevent the goldsmith from cheating while making the [[silambu]] for Kannagi. However, along with the golden silambu, he also made a brass silambu and hid it in the roadside ditch. On the way to handing over the silambu to Kannaki, the goldsmith skillfully replaces the gold silambu with the brass one which he had thrown into the stream by pretending to have tripped and fallen into the stream.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> He handed over the replaced silambu to Kannaki and returned with the rewards. Kannaki realized that she had been tricked when she picked up the silambu to wear it. The Pootham guarding the work bit his tongue and opened his eyes in anger.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> The ritual in which Pootham travel from house to house in search of the goldsmith who has committed fraud.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> Associated with this belief is the appearance of a Pootham with its eyes wide open and tongue out.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> There is another belief that Pootham goes from house to house in search of the real golden silambu.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>

Elsewhere popular is the myth related to killing of [[Darika]]. It is believed that [[Bhadrakali]], the daughter of Shiva, after slaying Darika, danced in joy accompanied by the demons of Shiva.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/> Thudi came as a percussion instrument because it was the dance of Lord Shiva's demons.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>

==Instruments used==
Traditional small percussion instrument called Thudi is used for Poothan, while a heavy drum called Para is used for thira.<ref name="keralaculture"/>

==Costume==
The Mudi (headgear) of the Poothan is semi-circular.<ref name="keralaculture"/> Mudi is also sometimes called 'thira'.<ref name="keralaculture"/> The Mudi of the thira are made of thin wood.<ref name="keralaculture"/> A face covering with the tongue sticking out is worn.<ref name="keralaculture"/> Various types of dyes sare used for decorating Mudi.<ref name="keralaculture"/> A lot traditional ornaments named as karivala (black bangle), kaivala (hand bangle), tholvala (wrist ornament), marthali (chest ornament) and aratali (waist ornament) are worn by the Poothan.<ref name="keralaculture"/> There will be colorful dresses.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> Pootham's style of dress is similar to [[Kathakali]].<ref name="keralaculture"/> The eyes are smeared [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]], the face and body are painted with water mixed rice flour and turmeric and flower garlands are also worn.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>

==Ritual==
There is a custom of going to houses dressed as Putham to inform the locals about the Thira festival at the temple. This ritual known as ''Kavettam'' or ''Kavil kayaral'' (entering the [[Kavu]]) is an important part of this ritual.<ref name="keralaculture"/> After the performance in houses, rice, paddy and money will be given to the performers from the homes.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>

A typical Poothan and Thira performance includes shouts and wild gestures and may include percussion and horns as well as drums. The dancers wear large fan-shaped head-dresses and imposing masks, often with sticking-out tongues and bulging eyes. The dancer playing [[Poothan]] usually wears a bright coloured tightly woven costume, often including bright red elements and embellished with gold-coloured [[wikt:trinket|trinket]]s that rattle when the dancer moves. The dancer playing Thira wears a semicircular black crown with symbols of the [[goddess]] embossed on it.

==In popular culture==
The epic [[Malayalam]] poem ''Poothappattu'' by [[Edasseri Govindan Nair]] is based on the Poothan and Thira tradition.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.keralatourism.org Kerala Tourism]
* [http://www.keralafestivals.com Kerala Festivals]

{{Culture of Kerala}}
[[Category:Hindu rituals]]
[[Category:Ritual dances]]
[[Category:Dances of Kerala]]
[[Category:Kerala folklore]]

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Poothan and Thira