Kaikottikali is a popular dance form of the Hindu community of Kerala. Kaikottikali dance is mainly performed by women during the Malayalam festival Onam. Onam is celebrated between December to January. Kaikottikali is performed on the day of Thiruvathira which falls under the Onam festival.
Kaikottikali is also known as Thiruvadirakali because it is performed on the day of Thiruvathira. It is a religious dance devoted to gods and goddesses. It is believed that the festival of Onam began when the king of Kerala Mahabali arrived in the state. King’s subjects were fond of him and they celebrated his arrival with great joy. Songs of King Mahabali’s praise are also sung during the performance.
Kaikottikali Dance Performance
A group of eight to ten women participate in the performance. Kaikottikali is a very sophisticated dance that requires soft but strong body movements. Good coordination is also important otherwise the charm of the dance will be lost.
First dancers make a circle while clapping their hands. They move clockwise and anticlockwise bending sideways while they move. The sound of dancers’ claps matches with the rhythm of the music. Dancers dance around a rangoli (various patterns made of flower petals) called pookalam. At the centre of the rangoli, a brass lamp is placed called nilavilakku.
Beliefs Associated with Kaikottikali Dance
The women of Kerala prepare for this festival all year long so they can participate in it. It is believed that if an unmarried girl performed kaikottikali she would have a good husband like Shiva. Shiva is the main god of the dance so the belief in a good husband comes from there. Parvati the wife of Shiva prayed and worshipped for Shiva day and night. Deities blessed Parvati that she will have Shiva as her husband. The story brings charm and faith in unmarried girls that they will have a nice husband.
Costume
As it is a dance performed mainly by women the sight is pretty mesmerising when they come out in the open to perform the dance. Women wear traditional clothing. They wear a Mundu on the lower part of their body and wrap another cloth Neriyathu which gives it a look of a saree. On the upper body, women wear a blouse. Arranging Jasmine flowers on hair and wearing a garland of it is also a part of the attire which along with beauty bring pleasant smell During th performance.
Women wear very light jewellery during the performance. During festivities, women wear their daily jewellery such as earrings, nose pin and anklet. If the dance is being performed on a stage they can be seen wearing big stud earrings, Kamar band, lightweight maang tikka and anklet.
Kaikottikali derives its origin from Kathakali (the classical dance of Kerala). Dancers dance on the songs based on the stories of Krishna, Shakuntala, Dhruva Charithram, and Kuchelavritham. On various occasions, different songs and tales are used to perform Kaikottikali. It also includes worship of Ganesha, Saraswati and Krishna.
If you ever visit Kerala during the Onam festival do not miss a chance to see this beautiful dance performance.