From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Onathallu
, also known as
Kayy?mkali
or
Avittathallu
is an Indian martial dance and a
semi-contact
combat sport
performed in
Kerala
during the festival of
Onam
. In some places, it takes the form of a choreographed sparring, while in some other places, it is a combat sport with actual sparring.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
It is believed to have descended from the martial art
Kalaripayattu
.
[2]
It is said to have evolved in
Pallassena
, a hamlet in present-day
Palakkad district
. According to legend, it is performed in memory of a battle waged by villagers of Pallassena against chieftain Kuthiravattathu Nair for killing their chieftain Pallasena Kuroor Nampidi by treachery. Both the chieftains were the subservient of the
Zamorin of Calicut
(Kozhikode Samoothiri). The battle ended after Samoothiri's intervention.
[3]
The festival is a tradition followed by the
Nairs
of the region in commemoration of the numerous
wars
they led and fought as part of the
army
of the
Kolathiris
. The name Pallassana refers to the fact that the group historically constituted the Pallava Sena or the Pallava Army, which eventually morphed into Pallassana or Pallasena, as it is known today.
[
citation needed
]
Fighting
[
edit
]
In the game, it is played in two teams inside a circle of 14 metre diameter drawn in ground, known as Attakalam. Each opponent enters the Attakalam and challenges someone from the other team. Stepping outside the circle while fighting is counted as loss.
[3]
The tradition involves an enactment or warlike performances by men of the Nair community at the Vettakaruman Dewaswom temple premises. The key component of the performance involves men pairing up and, under the guidance and supervision of
elders
in the community, enacting physical combat,
war cries
and battle-like behaviour. This is seen as a vazhivaadu by the men involved, and is a highly revered and attended festival during the Avittam nakshatra of
Onam
.
In certain places, actual sparring takes place, with the left elbow serving as a shield and the right arm as a weapon. Spectators have a major part in arousing the martial spirit of the competitors. This duel exists in
Kunnamkulam
in
Thrissur district
and
Malappuram
and some other parts of northern Kerala. It is played by adults with a background on
Kalaripayattu
, who forms two teams consisting ten to twenty people. Two from each team walk ahead and spar until one is overpowered. This is performed until the last pair.
[4]
References
[
edit
]
|
---|
Arts Promotion Bodies
| |
---|
Performing arts
| |
---|
Music
| |
---|
Folk arts
| |
---|
Fine arts
| |
---|
Festivals
| |
---|
Martial arts
| |
---|
Musical instruments
| |
---|
Society
| |
---|
|
|
---|
Organisations
| |
---|
Informative articles
| |
---|
Airports
| |
---|
Amusement parks
| |
---|
Archaeological sites
| |
---|
Beaches
| |
---|
Boat races
| |
---|
Caves
| |
---|
Dams
| |
---|
Festivals
| |
---|
Forts
| |
---|
Islands
| |
---|
Lakes
| |
---|
Lighthouses
| |
---|
Mountains
| |
---|
Museums
| |
---|
Palaces
| |
---|
Ancient residences
| |
---|
Waterfalls
| |
---|
Wildlife sanctuaries
| |
---|
Zoos
| |
---|
|
External links
[
edit
]