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Tolpava
Koothu is the unique shadow puppet theatre form of Kerala.
It is an
ancient peculiar ritualistic art form dedicated to Bhagavati, worshiped by the
people as the Mother Goddess.
I t is chiefly to propitiate Bharakali (Mother
Goddess) that
Tholpavakoothu.Is performed in her temples
and the devotees believes that the goddess watches the performance and would be
pleased by it. This belief is based upon the following legend.
In the battle
between Devas and Asuras, the Asuras were bitterly defeated by the former. In
the prolonged battle, only four women were left alive. And they were Dhanapathy,
Dheenapathy, Vanika, Maneeshika. Among them, Dhanapathy who was blessed by the
boon of the Brahma gave birth to a son.
Long ago the creator, Brahma, blessed an
asurastri (demoness) and as a result of his blessing she gave birth to a son
named Darika.
When this asuras (demons) boy grew up he became so strong that he turned
out to be threat constant source of harassment to the gods and maharshis-sages
and hermits, they approached lord Shiva for help. In order to Darika, shiva
created the goddess Bhadarakali from the kalakoota poison lodged in his throat.
A fierce
fight ensured between Darika, and Bhadarakali, lasting serval days. Finally
Bhadarakali killed Darika, while Bhadarakali was engaged in fighting Darika;
Rama was fighting Ravana, so Bhadarakali was not able to see Rama and Ravan
fight. That is why the Ramayana story is enacted in her presence through
Tholpavakoothu
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Krishnankutty Pulavar Memorial Tolpavakoothu& Puppet Centre
Centre
for Performances & Research in Traditional Shadow Puppet Theatre
Director: K.K.Ramachandra Pulavar
P.O.Koonathara,
Shoranur,-679523, Kerala, India|+91 466 222 7226, +91 984 653 4998, +91 953 963
6134
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