Padayani
Encyclopedia
Padayani, also called Padeni, (from the word for military formations) is a traditional folk dance
from the central portion of the India
n state
of Kerala
. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali.
In 2007, plans were put forward to implement a proposal by poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
to create a Padayani Village to promote the dance form. As of 2009, the first such village is expected to be built in the poet's hometown of Kadammanitta
at a cost of Rs. 1.9 crore
. A chief exponent of Padayani is Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai
. His association and acquaintance with Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
has led to many literary contributions. His Literary work "Padayaniyude Paalakolangal" and "Padayani" is an authoritative work on Kerala Folklore with special reference to Padayani.
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
from the central portion of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali.
In 2007, plans were put forward to implement a proposal by poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan , popularly known as Kadammanitta, was an Indian poet. He was born in Kadammanitta province of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. His childhood experiences, especially the Patayani songs, imparted strong influence in his literary work...
to create a Padayani Village to promote the dance form. As of 2009, the first such village is expected to be built in the poet's hometown of Kadammanitta
Kadammanitta
Kadammanitta is a village in Pathanamthitta District and is famous for its Kadammanitta Devi Temple. Its located at a distance of 6 km from Pathanamthitta. The Annual temple Festival is held in the month of May/June. The Ten Day long Padayani Performances conducted as part of the Festival...
at a cost of Rs. 1.9 crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
. A chief exponent of Padayani is Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai
Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai
Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai, is a Padayani exponent from Kerala, India. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Kerala Folklore Academy.-Early and professional life:...
. His association and acquaintance with Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan , popularly known as Kadammanitta, was an Indian poet. He was born in Kadammanitta province of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. His childhood experiences, especially the Patayani songs, imparted strong influence in his literary work...
has led to many literary contributions. His Literary work "Padayaniyude Paalakolangal" and "Padayani" is an authoritative work on Kerala Folklore with special reference to Padayani.
Further reading
- Gopalakrishnan, K.K. (2010) Study of Padayani CHOOTTUPADAYANI — Folklore Study: B. Ravikumar; Rainbow Book Publishers, Chengannur-689124.