poorakkali

Puuram and puurakkali are the unique festival in Kannur and Kasargode district , performed during meena masam.The festival is basically meant for fertility. The thriving aspects of puuram and puurakkali are that it transforms individual urge for fertilization to a social urge for agricultural fertility.This purified transformation take place in a care fully planned Dance system called puurakkali , a vibrant ritualistic play performed by a group of men in Bhagavathi kavues. . The leader is called Panikker. he is singing the charismatic pattu and leads the play with so many twist and turns.
Puuram is celebrated from meenamasa karthika nal  to puuram nakshtra ie for nine days. In certain bhagavati kavu it is for seven days or less. But all will culminate on puuram day!, the day on which "Puuram kulichu madam kayaruka" is performed.
We are well aware about Bharani pattu and Cherthala pura pattu and the saying chenakkethae puuram thanikkotha polae.But in north even though the subject is more ore less  same the language in poem are very elevated and kayyialmakam.! It is a performance in bhagavathikavu giving due participation to girls in rituals. They are called puurakuttikal . They live in kavues during the whole puram days.
The under neath legend behind puuram is kamadeva pooja.this is tagged with the story of kamadeva dehana .
Deksha was one of the prominent prajapathi with fifty daughters. In addition he had one adapted daughter called Sathi devi. Sathi married Paramsiva with out the cuncurance of Daksha.He was terribelly enoyed by such an act of his daughter.In order to take revenge and to defame siva ,Dakshan condected a maha yaga. All gods were invited except siva and sathi.Even with out the concurance of siva sathi went for the maha yaga. But Daksha again abused sathi and siva.Un bearable sathi sacrificed her life in the holey fire of maha yaga. Naturaly the angry siva sent his bootha ganas to kill Daksha and it was carried out. later the brhama gave re birth to daksha. but siva became a veyiragi ,discarded all the duties and went to hymalaya for thapassu.To bring back siva to worldly affairs parvathi ,the daughter of himavan was depuated by devas. Parvathi lured siva with the help of kamadeva. she succeeded. Sivaa broke the thapassu. Yet he found out the reason for his oscillation of  mind.when he realized that kamadevan was the assistant in this affair  he got angry and ruined kamadeva by magic fire!.The worldly life came to a stand still with out kama deva. In order to please Maha vishnu for arranging to the re birth of kamadeva 18 ladies comprising urvsi, meenaka ,rembha, thilothama ,retnavi, bhuumidevi, seetha, draupathi, thara ,mandodari and others performed puurakali. since it is composed by 18 ladies there are eightteen nirangal or items in puurakkali . only at a later part men took this play from women and added certain martial art with it. It is basically a kama pooja. See the beginning..
karthikanal kalathai poyi 
Kaminimar kavu thannil
Poo murikkan pookunneram 
Poobanantae banameattu.
Banamathaettu nadungina manga mar 
Nanamatuttu nadannudnnae.!!
But at the tale end this urge is transformed in to an  agricultural urge . see the praying at a later stage.
Narayana narayana varam tharika
Nanmayodae en veyalil vela vilavan...!!
The transformation of individuals physical urge  seeking individual pleasure to social urge for cultivation is the essance of puurakkali. This is not a forced change, but a self realized group change with out suppressing any emotions. That is one of its social importance more relevant in this period of time.
Maratthu kali
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Marathukali is an elevated form of puurakkali. In this play two Panikkkers and their players are involved.
Each leader sings and illustrate the songs of all items in puurakkali. The players perform each play alternatively.This is certainly a competion !. The play,  the poem ,its presentation style ,its grammar, and legend  is questioned by the opponent and they are answerable.Nattiyaa sasthram, joythisasthram ,and all most all literal aspects of Malayalam and Sanskrit are elaborately discussed in the play.So many verity of knowledge  is illustrated before the audience. It is more superior than any other intellectual cross examinations like Anniyonniam or Ravethi pathanam. It needs a lot of study and practice.
What is the social relevance of puurakkali ?
Basically it up holds the dignity of women  and right to equality.It categorically put forth that cultivation is the prime duty of the society . Demonstration of the strength of unity and grouping together is magnificently expressed. It is a superior expression of strength of the depressed class of people.Finlay it up holds the spirit of secularism.