Reliving a martial tradition

Brandishing their mock churikas and parichas (dagger and shield), the group of 101 advanced through the road leading to the east nada of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. To make up for the lack of numbers, huge effigies of the five Pandavas were put up on either side of the road. ‘Velakali’, the traditional martial dance performed as part of the annual Painkuni festival at the temple, is the story of this unequal fight between the two sides.

The art form is said to have originated in the princely State of Chempakassery (present day Ambalappuzha). With Marthanda Varma’s annexation of the area with Travancore, Velakali became an annual feature at Padmanabhaswamy Temple, marking the commencement of the Painkuni festival.

But the art form was almost forgotten, as it was not performed in the temple for about four decades, until it was revived in 2011. Since then, the tradition has continued, with the team of 101 artistes led by Rajiv Panicker, who now heads the Mathoor Kalari, where the artistes are groomed.

On Friday, the Velakali performance began with Sreemoolam Thirunal Rama Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal family lighting the ceremonial lamp at the east nada. Hundreds of devotees, young and old, lined up on either side of the pathway that leads to the temple. Red was the colour that stood out on the street, be it the bright red attire of the Pandava effigies or the red headgear of the 101 Kauravas.

The performers exhibited mock martial moves to the accompaniment of the panchavadyam, including maddalam, thavil, ilathalam, kombu and kuzhal.