Thirayaattam, a ritual dance-drama

Thirayaattam, a ritual dance-drama is performed as part of festival celebrations in Kaavus, temples of the Goddess, in Kozhikode and Malappuram Districts of Kerala.One can note a vast difference between Theyyam andThira in their rituals, Kolams, costumes, make-up, performances etc. Thira is the chief sub division of Theyyam, and so the whole perfomance is also called Theyyam-Thira. It represents a legendary social figure and deplicts its heroic exploits. Thira is a whole in itself regarding its theme and is usually presented before the main event. The perfomers of Thira, through appropriate costumes,assume the roles of the divinities they hold in veneration. The dance, to the accompaniment of indigenous instruments, takes place only at night,illuminated by torchers made of clusters of dried coconut fronds. The word Thiram means “radiance” or ‘lustre’, and the Thirayaattam is said to cast radiance or lustre by virtue of his gorgeous array, made all the more dazzling by the blaze of the torches.

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