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| Thiruvathira
Kali
This is a group dance by young ladies of
Nair community on the night of Thiruvathira (the sixth lunar asterism)
of the month of Dhanu in the Malayalam calendar, corresponding to
December in Christian era, till dawn, singing in praise of Lord
Shiva. For married women it is an imperative ritual propitiating
the God for granting lingering matrimony and for virgin maids, it
is for the boon of getting a pleasing matrimonial alliance. Attired
in traditional white handloom Mundu and Neryath and adorning fabulous
gold jewellery, women dance round the Nilavilakku (pedestal wick
lamp) placed in the courtyard, singing and clapping hands. It has
songs written specifically for the purpose in special metric scale,
narrating stories from the legends |
