Detailed Description

About the Activity

Tholpava koothu, the unique shadow puppet theatre form of Kerala, South India, is preserved as a family tradition by the Pulavars.
It is an ancient peculiar ritualistic art form dedicated to Bhagavati, worshiped by the people of Kerala as the Mother Goddess.

It will be enjoyed by the general public as a popular entertainment while it will be received as a religious offering by the devotees.

The puppet plays are based on selected verses from the famous Tamil Epic '’Kamba Ramayana'. The language used is a dialect of Tamil with an admixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam words.

The Puppets are made of deer skin and are held by a thin stick in one hand while the limbs are manipulated by a thinner stick held in another hand of the puppeteer.

About 160 puppets are used for the complete version of the "Kamba Ramayana", representing 71 characters in four main categories (sitting, standing, walking, fighting) besides puppets to depict nature, battle scenes and ceremonial parades.

The screen is illuminated by 21 lighted lamps, made out of coconut shelves, filled with coconut oil, provided with cotton wicks and placed equidistant from eachother on the Vilakku-madam (wooden beam) behind the curtain.

Ezhupara, a cylindrical drum made out of jack-fruit wood and covered with calf-skin on both ends and Ilathalam (cymbals) are the main accompaniments. Shankha (conch), Chenda and Maddalam (drums), Chengila (gong) and Kurum-kuzhal (a short pipe) are further instruments to be used on special occasions.
Apart from this we will also teach you to make Shadow Puppetry.

Inclusions

Shadow Puppetry show of 30 to 60 Minutes

Learn to make Shadow Puppets

Exclusion

Stay can be arranged at an Additional Cost over here

How to Get There

Palakkad is Situated 144 km from Kochi

Applicable Seasons

Throughout the Year