The new system of Kola or spiritual deification is an important sociocultural miracle of South Kanara. As a possession cult and folk ritualistic theatre, it's to be viewed as a complex system of rituals and beliefs, and music. The Bhootha Kola performance has been performed on the occasion of colourful carnivals in Tulu- speaking areas from ancient times. Spirit deification was an important ritualistic exertion of the people and it involved the practice of rituals and beliefs. As a possession cult and folk ritualistic theatre, it's to be viewed as a complex system of rituals, beliefs and music. The Spiritship was also a commemorative of society's acceptance of new practices.
Culturally, the Bhootha Kola is an ancient ritualistic drama which continues in South Kanara and is performed in colourful ways like, without authorisation from the psychic clerk( Bhootha), without any script( Bhava), without any masks etc. The word' Bhootha' means ghost and bone
who conducts similar practices would be called' Kammal'.
The Bhootha Kola rituals are performed in a particular way and the people of South Kanara are well acquainted with the social, religious and artistic symbols attached to it. The performance of the Bhootha Kola is considered a vehicle for assuaging the spirits and demons. The proper performance of the Bhootha Kola makes one eligible for blessings from Gods. It's performed during occasions like housewarming observances( Gharabeedana), by an individual or group of persons, in colourful ways.
The people engage in numerous other conditioning like arranging food and snacks, decorating houses etc., piecemeal from carrying out rituals, to please the spirit- deity.
Origin of the Bhootha
"Bhootha" is a Sanskrit term signifying rudiments of nature earth, water, fire, air and space. It also means the unseen spirit which frightens people. With this in mind, people began worshipping and glorifying Bhootha, a practice known as charge Aradhana. These observances draw our attention not only because of their elaborate rituals but also for the visual and performing trades associated with this cult.
The date for Bhoot Aradhana in the utmost corridor of India ranges from the first day of October to November 11th. The most extensively observed date is the eighth day of the Navaratri jubilee, which falls on the day after Dussehra.
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The deification of nature spirits began in central and southern India during the early centuries bulletin With communities having a large pastoral population and a fairly small number of Brahmins( the loftiest estate) to supervise religious solemnities, the townies turned to their preachers, astrologers, forecasters and exorcists- people who were allowed
to have an understanding of human beings. In popular tradition, they were known as Nayanars( people endowed with preternatural powers).
Music and dance
Traditional music and folk songs are in a constant state of elaboration. One similar tradition is the Bootha Kola ritual art, which, although it's now rare to hear performed in its original form, has come the most extensively popular among Apsu people of all time. The legend of this performance says that it was created by a remarkable man who was inspired by hearing music during a reverie - suchlike state.
Muscians form an important part of the ritual Bhootha Kola
The folk form and music of the Bootha kola ritual art stand out veritably and contribute significantly to the artistic armature of the folk art. The music has plain movements and lower modulation. It lays stress on the thematic tone. As impersonators, they are born vocalizers, inheriting knowledge of air and meter, and learning oral culture from their parents.
The art has a typical structure for utmost Apsu people. To start with, it's created in the form of a shamanic ritual that's grounded on the training of their fathers and progenitors. These ancestral traditions are passed from generation to generation by tutoring proper styles of combining the songs and movements about their meanings.
The performances take place in a separate area of the vill so that it would be easier for all actors to come absorbed into the performance while they sing or dance. The singing chorus is generally made up of several musketeers who are invited or transferred by their elders.
The musicians blow in a fast tempo to the incident of barrel beating. The impersonator jitters, balls and agitates his body. His body moves convulsively. The wild and vigorous cotillion helps him to get a cerebral feeling of the vision of fellowship with the spirit.
Makeup and costume
Bhootha impersonator putting on makeup
Different types of makeup, costumes, and beautifiers are used for the possession dance. The colours for facial makeup are set indigenously. Facial makeup varies for different types of spirits. The ditty that's sung mama, woman
or family of the impersonator helps him in big facial makeup that has to be put on. The impersonator is also dressed in a win splint gown called Ani, which is made of win splint and is beautifully decorated with flowers and elaborate decoration. The Ani used can be of different shapes semicircular, round or forecourt, framed with shafts. The shape, size and decoration of this headgear vary from far and wide.
A portion of the pedal or the conterminous place of the arena is his green room. This is solely reserved for the impersonator and his family, where he prepares his dress and other accoutrements of make-up. He also reposes then during intervals. Indeed after the preface of electric lights, a slush-beacon and a glass are kept for make-up, this makeup has a theatrical effect Different colour combinations and lines on the face display the different characteristics of the spirit. The shape of the eyebrow, headgear and jewel of the recollected clerk and impersonator all vary.
I am almost 20 years old now and having grow up amidst such socio-cultural neighbourhood it has definitely influenced me culturally. I love going to watch these ritual theatres and stay there until about 3 am in the morning. And not being from their community doesn't make us feel excluded by any means. We enjoy it a lot. I hope you all enjoyed reading about the culture of the city that I come from - Mangalore. Thank you so much for reading this far. Stay tuned for the part two of this post. Thank you all.