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[[File:Panchari melam.jpg|thumb|250px|Melam at Tripunithura Poornathrayeesa Temple]]

'''Panchari Melam''' is a percussion ensemble, performed during [[Temple Festivals of Kerala|temple festivals]] in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. Panchari Melam (or, simply, panchari), is one of the major forms of [[chenda]] melam (ethnic drum ensemble), and is the best-known and most popular ''kshetram vadyam'' (temple percussion) genre. Panchari melam, comprising instruments like chenda, [[ilathalam]], [[Kombu (instrument)|kombu]] and [[kuzhal]], is performed during virtually every temple festival in central Kerala, where it is arguably presented in the most classical manner. Panchari, however, is also traditionally performed, with a touch of subtle regional difference, in north (Malabar) and south-central Kerala (Kochi). Of late, its charm has led to its performance even in deep-south Kerala temples.

Panchari is a six-beat thaalam ([[tala (music)|taal]]) with equivalents like Roopakam in south Indian [[Carnatic music]] and Daadra in the northern [[Hindustani classical]].

Another chenda [[melam]] which comes close to panchari in prominence and grammatical soundness, is [[Pandi Melam]], performed outside temple precincts in general. Other chenda melams, though less popular, are [[chempata]], [[adanta]], [[anchatanta]], [[dhruvam]], [[chempha]], [[navam]], [[kalpam]] and [[ekadasam]]. Though there are expressional differences between the panchari and the above-mentioned melams (other than pandi), the description of the former is proto-typical for the rest of them.

Panchari melam is performed either in its elaborate form (during annual temple festivals) or in its sketchy detail (to accompany the daily or weekly temple rituals). The Panchari Melam represents "Satthva Guna", and elevates listeners to higher pedestals.

The ensemble starts at the main entrance to the inner part of the temple, slowly circling the shrine clockwise while playing. A panchari melam has five stages, each of them based on beats totalling 96, 48, 24, 12 and 6 respectively. The first phase of the Panchari Melam, also called the "Pathikaalam" stands out for its unique blend of percussion and notes from the Kuzhal. The crescendo rises higher with each phase, eventually culminating in the fifth phase with a 6-beat cycle. For the culmination of the fifth phase, a unique 3-beat cycle called "Muri-Panchari" is also employed to take the Melam to an apt conclusion. The Melam thus starts with a broad base, and progresses completing the pyramid structure, culminating at the apex.

The semi-circular procession, with caparisoned elephants (totalling between three and fifteen generally), is led by the deity of the temple carried by the tusker in the centre. (In a purely ritualistic case, the idol is carried by the Namboodiri priest himself). The deity faces the musical ensemble and devotees/melam buffs, the latter surrounding the musicians and following the progress of the melam.

==Major venues==
Panchari melam, in its grand classical form, is staged during temple festivals in and around [[Thrissur]] and [[ernakulam]] districts . [[tripunithura]] [[sree poornathrayeesa Temple]] vrishchikolsavam is one of the best venue of panchari melam where one can enjoy 15 detailed panchari melams. [[Iringalakkuda]] [[koodalmanikyam]] temple annual festival is Also another best venue for pancharimelam and [[Peruvanam Pooram]], [[Arattupuzha Pooram]], [[Kuttanellur]] [[Pooram]], [[Edakkunni Uthram Vilakku]], Kuzhur [[Subrahmanya Swamy Temple]] [[ernakulathappan temple]] are the other good venues of pancharimelam . The longest and the most sublime Panchari Melam's are the ones held at [[Tripunithura]] [[sree poornathrayeesa Temple]] vrishchikolsavam, [[Peruvanam Pooram]], [[Edakkunni Uthram Vilakku]] & [[Kuttanellur]] [[Pooram]], with the performance lasting for about four hours. The last one endures for a record duration of four hours. Tripunithura valiya vilakku melam lasts for 5 hours. The very best panchari for annual festivals is tripunithura vrishchikolsavam melams followed by koodalmanikyam ulsavam panchari.
A list of Panchari in Thrissur, Palakkad Dist- in and around Cherpu.
1. Peruvanam (Urakam, Cherpu, Chathakudam, Pisharikkal)
2. Chendamangalam (Paliyam) temple
2. [[Thiruvambady Temple]]
2. Thaikkattussery
3. Chakkam kulangara
4. Cherpu Bhagavati
5. Chathakudam
6. Kadalassery
7. Araattupuzha
9. Thriprayar
10. Irinjalakkuda
11. Pothani
12. Chelurkavu
13. Avitathur
14. Ayankavu
15. Kodunthirapully Navarathri (Palakkad)
16. Manapully Kavu Vela (Palakkad)

==Leading masters==
Among the leading masters of Panchari melam today are Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, kizhakoot Aniyan Marar, Madathil Narayanankutty Marar, Kelath Aravindan Marar, Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Thiruvalla Radhakrishnan Marar, Pazhuvil Raghu Marar, vellithiruthy unni nair , Cheranallore Shankarankutty Marar, Peruvanam Satheesan Marar, Kelath Prabhakaran Marar, Karimpuzha Gopi Poduval, Cherussery Kuttan Marar, Kanhangad Muraleedhara Marar, Payyavoor Narayana Marar, Chowalloor Mohanan nair, iringapuram babu, Guruvayoor Haridas, RLV Mahesh, Cheruthazham Achuthananda Marar, Chittannur Madhusoodhanan Marar, Peruvanam Prakashan Marar, Peruvanam Sankararnarayanan Marar, Chendamangalam Unnikrishna Marar and Kalamandalam Sivadasan, Cherussery Sreekumar Marar. Kodakara unni

Late panchari melam masters of the recent past include Late Shri Pandarathil Kuttappa Marar, Peruvanam Narayana Marar, Peruvanam Appu Marar, Kumarapurathu Appu Marar, Chakkamkulam Appu Marar, Thrippekulam Achutha Marar, Late Madathil GopalaMarar, Karimpuzha Rama Poduval, Mulangunnathukavu Appukutta Kurup, Pandarathil Murali, Kachamkurichi Kannan, Kuruppath Eachara Marar, Karekkattu Eachara Marar, Pattirathu Sankara Marar and Makkoth Nanu Marar<ref>Killius, Late Kelath Rajan Marar Rolf. 2006 ’Ritual Music and Hindu Rituals of Kerala.’ New Delhi: BR Rhythms. {{ISBN|81-88827-07-X}}</ref>
The Great Thrimoorthies In All
Late :Shri Pandarathil Kuttappa Marar, Late:Makoth Sankaran kutty Marar, Anthikad Raman Kutty Marar.
Three of them learned the Thayambaka from Late Shri Thiyadi Naimbair.

==See also==
* [[Pandi Melam]]
* [[Panchavadyam]]
* [[Thayambaka]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Panchari Melam}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070521063513/http://melam.gosree.org/#top Melam Collections]

{{Culture of Kerala}}
{{Music of Kerala}}

[[Category:Kerala music]]
[[Category:Percussion ensembles]]
[[Category:Indian musical groups]]
[[Category:Hindu music]]
[[Category:Culture of Kerala]]

Panchari melam - Revision history

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