Paana
or Pallippaana, as it is sometimes called, is a ritual art to propitiate the
goddess Bhadrakaali. The art form is popular in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad
and Malappuram. Paana is part of a three day festival. A canopy is supported
by 64 posts of cut out from the Paala tree ( Alstonia scholaris) and adorned
with tender palm fronds is erected near the shrine of the goddess. A stump of
this tree is ceremonially brought to the site and planted there for the occasion
and a non-figurative kalam is drawn in the centre using coloured powders. A
ceremonial sword is placed on a red silk cloth under the tree stump to signify
the presence of the goddess.
At the end of a series of rites, the oracle arrives and moves in a trance around
the kalam and the pandal (canopy). The para, a variation of the chenda is the
main percussion accompaniment. The dream beats work up to a frenzy to match
the steps of the oracle. Performed during the night, the ritual lasts for about
three hours
Interested
? Book Tour through our Members
