| Description |
Mudiyettu is a ritualistic art form of Kerala based on the mythological tale of battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. It is a community ritual in which the entire village participates. After the summer crops have been harvested, the villagers reach the temple early in the morning on an appointed day. The traditional performers of Mudiyettu having purified themselves through fasting and prayers, proceed to draw on the temple floor a huge image of goddess Kali called 'Kalam' with coloured powder obtained from organic material. Kalam helps the performers imbue the spirit of the goddess. This is followed by an enactment of Kali-Darika myth, where Kali eventually vanquishes the demon. Mudiyettu performance which is said to herald the dawn of peaceful and prosperous new year, purifies and rejuvenates the whole community. It is performed annually in 'Bhagavati Kavus'', the temples of the goddess in different villages of Kerala along the rivers, Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and Moovattupuzha among thenMarar and Kurup communities.
Mudiyettu combines in itself the mythic, the ritual, the festive and the ecological aspects of the community. At the same time it is an expression of aesthetic and creative aspirations of the community. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Mudiyettu serves as an important cultural site for transmission of traditional values, ethics, moral codes and aesthetic norms of the community to the next generation, thereby ensuring its continuity and relevance in present times.
Under its common roof, Mudiyettu provides space for artists and craftsmen of all the differentncastes like Parayan, Tandan, Ganakan, Kuruvan, Veluthedan, Maran, Poojari etc. to comentogether in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. Each caste plays a specific role in the Mudiyettu ritual. The Parayan caste provides bamboo artefacts and leather hide for drums; the Tandan brings the areca nut fronds required for masks and headgears; the Ganakan paints the masks; the Kuruvan keeps the country torches burning; the Veluthedan (Patiyan) washes the clothes used for making the deity’s dress; the Maran gets the torches ready and keeps them supplied with oil. The priest initiates the rituals inside the temple.
Thus each caste in the village contributes to the festival as per its professional expertise and traditional role in the ritual.
It is believed that the performance of Mudiyettu purifies and rejuvenates the whole community. The myth of Kali and Darika enacted through the ritual drama of Mudiyettu propagates the message of victory of good over evil. The staging of this myth promises a peaceful future for humanity. Mutual co-operation and collective participation of each caste in the ritual instils and strengthens the sense of common identity and mutual bonding in the community. |
| Transmission method |
Mudiyettu being an oral tradition is dependent on direct, face to face transmission through traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara (Master-disciple tradition). Responsibility of its transmission lies with the elders and senior performers, who train the younger generations engaging them as apprentices. Mudiyettu is a community based, region centric art. There is no school or institution to give training in this art form. The senior practitioners, well-versed in this art, train the younger generations, engaging them as their assistants in the course of performing the ritual. Three Mudiyettu families have started giving formal training to interested students, to learn both the vocal and the instrumental music; dance steps; and techniques for memorizing the oral text. Training sessions are held on Saturdays and Sundays for 6-8 hours. On week days it is only 1-2 hours. |
| Community |
Members of the Marar and Kuruppu communities in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Iddukki districts of Kerala perform Mudiyettu. The Pazhoor Kunjan Marar family of Piravam in Ernakulam District has a tradition of more than 250 years in the field of performing Mudiyettu. However, it is only the male members in the family who practice the form.
There are only 3 traditional families of regular performers of Mudiyettu at present in the country:
1. Pazhoor Damodara Marar Smaraka Gurukulam at Pazhoor, Ernakulam District, led by Pazhoor Narayanan Marar, son of Pazhoor Damodara Marar, and Pazhoor Muraleedharan Marar, brother of the late Pazhoor Damodara Marar.
2. Sankarankutty Smaraka Mudiyettu troupe at Keezhillam, led by the sons of late Keezhillam Sankarankutty Marar : Keezhillam Unnikrishnan and Keezhillam Gopalakrishnan.
3. Varanattu Kurup at Koratty led by Kizhake Varanattu Nanu (Narayana) Kurup and Sankaranarayana Kurup. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2010 |
