Paliya Nritham : Episodes Released
In this series, meet the artists of Vellayankanni Paliya Parambaragatha Nritham, a team preserving tradition through every rhythm and verse. From marriage songs to harvest rituals, each episode offers an intimate look into the cultural and ecological knowledge encoded in these art forms.
Paliya Nritham, a dance form practiced by the Paliya community in Kerala in their settlement at Kumily, is an example on how the community builds livelihood by upholding their cultural practice and identity. Documentation efforts were done under the ARPO Earthlore project to highlight the cultural identity of Paliyar community in Kerala.
Tucked away from the hectic tourist spots of Thekkady, Vellayankaani Paliya Parambaragatha Nritham, a team of 20 + enthusiastic individuals from Paliyakudi, Kumily practices their dance form of Paliya Nritham to their set of songs with various traditional instruments.
Here are the episodes we have published to date:
01 Nellukuthu Nritham | Paliya Nritham
The Nellukuthu Nritham is a performative art form of the Paliyar community, meticulously documenting their deep-rooted agrarian practices. This song and dance sequence visually and audibly narrates the entire cycle of paddy cultivation, from the crucial phase of seed sowing to the culminating period of harvesting. As an ethnographic record, it provides invaluable insights into traditional agricultural methods, the communal labor involved, and the inherent gratitude towards the land's bounty. The rhythmic movements and lyrical narratives are not merely entertainment but serve as a living archive of their sustenance strategies and their profound connection to the natural environment. This performance exemplifies the intersection of cultural expression and daily subsistence within the community.
Watch Nellukuth Nritham Here :
02 Kalyana Paattu | Paliya Nritham
The Kalyana Paattu in Paliyar tradition represents a distinct genre of ceremonial music and performance integral to their marriage rituals. This song and dance form is characterized by reciprocal, playful banter between the families of the bride and groom. Structurally, it involves the groom's kin engaging in lighthearted teasing of the bride's family, and vice versa. Ethnomusicologically, it highlights the social dynamics, kinship structures, and the culturally sanctioned mechanisms for communal interaction and humor within Paliyar matrimonial ceremonies. It serves as a significant record of their social customs, demonstrating the community's approach to celebration, inter-familial relations, and the use of performance as a medium for social commentary and cohesion.
Watch Kalyana Paattu Here :
03 Aaradhana Nritham | Paliya Nritham
The Aradhana Nritham is the foremost ritualistic dance of the Paliyar community, embodying profound spiritual and cultural significance. This performance is a direct act of veneration dedicated to their clan deity, Elaath Pallichiyamma. Ethnographically, it is presented following the annual harvest, serving as a formal offering of the year's agricultural yield, often accompanied by the preparation and presentation of Pongala. This dance is a powerful expression of their animistic beliefs, their deep reverence for their ancestral deity, and their spiritual connection to the land and its productivity. It provides crucial insights into their religious practices, ceremonial cycles, and the role of collective worship in reinforcing community identity and seeking divine blessings for prosperity.
Watch Aradhana Nritham Here :
04 Mullaperiyar Song | Songs of Paliyar
This specific song from the Paliyar community stands as a critical piece of oral history, offering a unique indigenous perspective on the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam. It serves as an archival record, articulating the experiences of Paliyar ancestors who participated in, or were impacted by, this monumental engineering project. The narrative, meticulously passed down through generations, often details the challenges faced, the labor contributed, and the socio-economic transformations witnessed by the community during the dam's construction. This song is a vital resource for understanding the human dimension of large-scale infrastructure development from the viewpoint of local communities, preserving narratives that may not be present in official historical documents.
Watch Mullaperiyar Song Here :
05 Nellukuthu Song | Songs of Paliyar
The Nellukuthu Nritham is a performative art form of the Paliyar community, meticulously documenting their deep-rooted agrarian practices. This song and dance sequence visually and audibly narrates the entire cycle of paddy cultivation, from the crucial phase of seed sowing to the culminating period of harvesting. As an ethnographic record, it provides invaluable insights into traditional agricultural methods, the communal labor involved, and the inherent gratitude towards the land's bounty. The rhythmic movements and lyrical narratives are not merely entertainment but serve as a living archive of their sustenance strategies and their profound connection to the natural environment. This performance exemplifies the intersection of cultural expression and daily subsistence within the community.
Watch Nellukuth Song Here :
Contact Vellayankaani Paliya Nritha Sangham, Kumily :
Aruvi +91 9744558045 ( Group Leader and Paliyakudi Chieftain)
Santhosh +91 9526806102 (Group Manager and Coordinator)
