Panchari melam
Encyclopedia
Panchari Melam is a percussion ensemble, canonically lasting more than four hours, performed during temple festivals
in Kerala
, India
. Panchari Melam (or, simply, panchari), is one of the major forms of chenda
melam (ethnic drum ensemble), and is the best-known and most popular kshetram vadyam (temple percussion) genre. Panchari melam, comprising instruments like chenda, ilathalam, kombu
and kuzhal
, is performed during virtually every temple festival in central Kerala, where it is arguably presented in the most classical manner. Panchari, however, is also traditionally performed, with a touch of subtle regional difference, in north (Malabar) and south-central Kerala (Kochi). Of late, its charm has led to its performance even in deep-south Kerala temples.
Panchari is a six-beat thaalam (taal
) with equivalents like Roopakam in south Indian Carnatic music
and Ek taal in the northern Hindustani classical.
Another chenda melam
which comes close to panchari in prominence and grammatical soundness, is Pandi Melam
, performed outside temple precincts in general. Other chenda melams, though less popular, are chempata, adanta, anchatanta, dhruvam
, chempha, dhruvam
, navam, kalpam and ekadasam. Though there are expressional differences between the panchari and the above-mentioned melams (other than pandi), the description of the former is proto-typical for the rest of them.
Panchari melam is performed either in its elaborate form (during annual temple festivals) or in its sketchy detail (to accompany the daily or weekly temple rituals). Either ways, they are performed only within the walls of the temple.
The ensemble starts at the main entrance to the inner part of the temple, slowly circling the shrine clockwise while playing. A panchari melam has five stages, each of them based on beats totalling 96, 48, 24, 12 and six respectively.
The semi-circular procession, with caparisoned elephants totalling between three to fifteen generally), is led by the deity of the temple kept on tusker in the centre. (In a pure ritualistic case, the idol is carried by the Namboodiri priest himself). The deity faces the musical ensemble and devotees/melam buffs, the latter surrounding the musicians and following the progress of the melam.
district. kerala's no1 pancharimelam is held at [ thripunithura sree poornathrayeesa temple] which falls in Eranakulam District.
Another major panchari melam venues are at Araatupuzha temple in Thrissur, Peruvanam and Kuttenallur. But the last one hold the record duration of melam lasting four hours.
A list of Panchari in Thrissur Dist- in and around Cherpu.
1. Kuttanelloor
2. Thaikkattussery
3. Ollur Edakkunni
4. Cherpu Bhagavati
5. Chatthakkudam
6. Kadalassery
7. Peruvanam
8. Araattupuzha
9. Thriprayar
10. Irinjalakkuda
11. Pothani
12. Chelurkavu
13. Avitathur
14. Ayankavu
15. Kodunthirapully navarathri
, Cheranallore Shankarankutty Marar, Peruvanam Satheesan Marar, Karimpuzha
Gopi Poduval, Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Kelath Aravindan, Cherussery Kuttan, Tiruvalla Radhakrishnan, Kanhangad Muraleedhara Marar, Payyavoor Narayana Marar, Chowalloor Mohanan, Guruvayoor Haridas, RLV Mahesh, Chittannur Madhusoodhanan Marar , Peruvanam Prakashan Marar and Kalamandalam Sivadasan.
Late panchari melam masters of the recent past include Peruvanam Appu Marar, Chakkamkulam Appu Marar, Karimpuzha Rama Poduval, Mulangunnathukavu Appukutta Kurup, Pandarathil Murali, Kachamkurichi Kannan, Kuruppath Eachara Marar, Karekkattu Eachara Marar, Kumarapurathu Appu Marar, Pattirathu Sankara Marar and Makkoth Nanu Marar
Temple Festivals of Kerala
Kerala which is often referred to as 'God's Own Country' has a large number of Hindu temples. Many of the temples have unique traditions and most hold festivals on specific days of the year. Temple festivals usually continue for a number of days. A common characteristic of these festivals is the...
in 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....
, 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...
. Panchari Melam (or, simply, panchari), is one of the major forms of chenda
Chenda
The Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
melam (ethnic drum ensemble), and is the best-known and most popular kshetram vadyam (temple percussion) genre. Panchari melam, comprising instruments like chenda, ilathalam, kombu
Kombu
Kombu or konbu , also called dashima or haidai , is edible kelp from the family Laminariaceae widely eaten in East Asia....
and kuzhal
Kuzhal
The kuzhal is a traditional double reed wind instrument used in the south Indian state of Kerala. It is similar in construction to a nagaswaram or a large shehnai, and has a very shrill and penetrating tone....
, is performed during virtually every temple festival in central Kerala, where it is arguably presented in the most classical manner. Panchari, however, is also traditionally performed, with a touch of subtle regional difference, in north (Malabar) and south-central Kerala (Kochi). Of late, its charm has led to its performance even in deep-south Kerala temples.
Panchari is a six-beat thaalam (taal
Tala (music)
Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion...
) with equivalents like Roopakam in south Indian Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
and Ek taal in the northern Hindustani classical.
Another chenda melam
Melam
Melam is the common name for percussion instruments that are unique to Tamilnadu, Kerala and parts of South India. The most traditional of all melams is the Pandi Melam, which is generally performed outside the temple. Another melam called the Panchari Melam, which is similar to Pandi Melam, but...
which comes close to panchari in prominence and grammatical soundness, is Pandi Melam
Pandi Melam
Pandi melam is a classical percussion concert or melam led by the ethnic Kerala instrument called the chenda and accompanied by ilathalam , kuzhal and Kombu....
, performed outside temple precincts in general. Other chenda melams, though less popular, are chempata, adanta, anchatanta, dhruvam
Dhruvam
Dhruvam is a 1993 Malayalam action film directed by Joshiy and written by S. N. Swamy and Sajan Babu; starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Gauthami, Tiger Prabhakar, and Vikram in the main roles. The film was among the highest grossing Malayalam films of 1993. The music is composed by S. P...
, chempha, dhruvam
Dhruvam
Dhruvam is a 1993 Malayalam action film directed by Joshiy and written by S. N. Swamy and Sajan Babu; starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Gauthami, Tiger Prabhakar, and Vikram in the main roles. The film was among the highest grossing Malayalam films of 1993. The music is composed by S. P...
, navam, kalpam and ekadasam. Though there are expressional differences between the panchari and the above-mentioned melams (other than pandi), the description of the former is proto-typical for the rest of them.
Panchari melam is performed either in its elaborate form (during annual temple festivals) or in its sketchy detail (to accompany the daily or weekly temple rituals). Either ways, they are performed only within the walls of the temple.
The ensemble starts at the main entrance to the inner part of the temple, slowly circling the shrine clockwise while playing. A panchari melam has five stages, each of them based on beats totalling 96, 48, 24, 12 and six respectively.
The semi-circular procession, with caparisoned elephants totalling between three to fifteen generally), is led by the deity of the temple kept on tusker in the centre. (In a pure ritualistic case, the idol is carried by the Namboodiri priest himself). The deity faces the musical ensemble and devotees/melam buffs, the latter surrounding the musicians and following the progress of the melam.
Major Venues of Panchari Melam
Panchari melam, in its grand classical form, is staged during temple festivals in and around ThrissurThrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
district. kerala's no1 pancharimelam is held at [ thripunithura sree poornathrayeesa temple] which falls in Eranakulam District.
Another major panchari melam venues are at Araatupuzha temple in Thrissur, Peruvanam and Kuttenallur. But the last one hold the record duration of melam lasting four hours.
A list of Panchari in Thrissur Dist- in and around Cherpu.
1. Kuttanelloor
2. Thaikkattussery
3. Ollur Edakkunni
4. Cherpu Bhagavati
5. Chatthakkudam
6. Kadalassery
7. Peruvanam
8. Araattupuzha
9. Thriprayar
10. Irinjalakkuda
11. Pothani
12. Chelurkavu
13. Avitathur
14. Ayankavu
15. Kodunthirapully navarathri
Leading Masters of Panchari Melam
Among the leading masters of Panchari melam today are Thrippekulam Achutha Marar, Peruvanam Kuttan MararPeruvanam Kuttan Marar
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He is a recipient of Padma Shri award in the year 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.-Early life:...
, Cheranallore Shankarankutty Marar, Peruvanam Satheesan Marar, Karimpuzha
Karimpuzha
Karimpuzha is a village in Ottapalam taluk, Palakkad district. The Karimpuzha River is one of the tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River. Bharathapuzha is the fourth longest riverin Kerala, south India. A famous Sree Rama Swamy Temple is situated on the banks of this River. Temple was owned by...
Gopi Poduval, Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Kelath Aravindan, Cherussery Kuttan, Tiruvalla Radhakrishnan, Kanhangad Muraleedhara Marar, Payyavoor Narayana Marar, Chowalloor Mohanan, Guruvayoor Haridas, RLV Mahesh, Chittannur Madhusoodhanan Marar , Peruvanam Prakashan Marar and Kalamandalam Sivadasan.
Late panchari melam masters of the recent past include Peruvanam Appu Marar, Chakkamkulam Appu Marar, Karimpuzha Rama Poduval, Mulangunnathukavu Appukutta Kurup, Pandarathil Murali, Kachamkurichi Kannan, Kuruppath Eachara Marar, Karekkattu Eachara Marar, Kumarapurathu Appu Marar, Pattirathu Sankara Marar and Makkoth Nanu Marar