Kutiyattam Dance

About Kutiyattam Dance

Kutiyattam Dance is one of the popular dances of Kerala. There are a number of arts and crafts practiced in Kerala, including dance, martial arts, and ritual arts. The dance forms of Kerala bear the legacy of the traditional art and craft of Kerala.One of the classical performing arts of Kerala, Kutiyattam dance of Kerala is worth a watch on your tour to Kerala. Kutiyattam was once considered the theater of the elite classes, due to its extremely complex acting styles and the difficult grammar of Sanskrit, which limited its audience to the upper castes of society. These heavily stylized movements and linguistics (for which Kutiyattam is regarded as the most structured form of drama in history) have their roots in ancient Indian religious and cultural history.This is a playhouse attached to temples. Kuttu proper involves solo storytelling, Kutiyattam i.e. `collective enactment`, the full-fledged staging. A reference to Kutiyattam in Cilappatikaram, the famous Tamil poem dated between the second century BC and fifth century AD, provides valid evidence that it came into existence about 2000 years ago. Certainly by the seventh century it had become quite popular. Two kings of the Chera dynasty in the tenth century, namely Kulasekhara Perumal and Cheraman Perumal, actively patronized its development.

Kutiyattam dance is a spectacular combination of intricate gesture language, chanting, inflated expressions of the face and eyes, elaborate headdresses and a gaudy make-up. Mizhavu drums, small cymbals, idakka drum, wind instrument kuzhal, and conch shell are used to provide music for the play.Men i.e. Chakkiyars and women i.e. Nangiyars act Kutiyattam, in kuttamodam theatres constructed in accordance with the prescriptions set down by the Natyasastra.

Usefull Links

http://arielemma.blogspot.com/2008/02/kutiyattam.html
http://spaceoutkerala.blogspot.com/2009/10/dharani-dance-festival-2009-will-be.html
http://mahapada.blogspot.com/2007/09/on-search-for-kutiyattam-teachers.html
http://satyachaitanyas.blogspot.com/2008/06/book-review-kootiyattam-oldest-living.html

Location info

kerala.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Kerala. 4G is reliable in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and along the coastal belt. Coverage may be weaker in remote sections of the Western Ghats, deep forest reserves, and certain backwater stretches. Most hotels, houseboats, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Kerala cuisine — fish curry, appam with stew, puttu, and Kerala sadhya — is widely available and famously delicious.

Hotels & accommodation nearby

Accommodation is available in the nearest town or city. Options range from homestays to luxury resorts. Kerala’s homestay network is excellent and offers authentic local experiences.

Climate & weather

Kerala has a tropical monsoon climate with warm, humid conditions year-round. The best time to visit is November to February, when temperatures are a pleasant 22°C–30°C with low humidity and clear skies. March–May is hot and humid (up to 36°C). The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rainfall — the landscape transforms into lush green and this is the best time for Ayurvedic treatments. The northeast monsoon (October–November) brings shorter showers. Hill stations (Munnar, Wayanad) remain cooler year-round.

Helpline & emergency contacts

Tourist Helpline: 1364 (toll-free, 24×7). Police: 112 (all-India emergency). Ambulance: 108. Women’s Helpline: 1091. Kerala Police Tourist Helpline: +91-471-2722255.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road — check locally for the closest option.