Paper Short Abstract:

The paper examines the ritual performance of Malakkari Thira of the Kurichiya community in Kerala, India. Employing the frameworks of performance studies, including liminality, restored behaviour, and social drama, the study analyses the role of ritual in fostering community solidarity and reinforcing the cultural identity of the Kurichiya. The research is conducted through fieldwork that incorporates interviews and observation. Keywords: Ritual, Malakkari Thira, Kurichiya, Performance Studies

Paper Abstract:

This paper analyses Malakkari Thira, a ritual performed as part of the annual religious festival of the Kurichiya community in Kerala, India. It is a symbolic representation of the mythical exploits of Malakkari, the chief deity of the indigenous community. Malakkari Thira is performed annually in the month of Kumbam (February) to appease the deity for its blessing and protection from evil spirits. The festival is accompanied by the rendering of mythical narrative of Malakkari. The performer, wearing vibrant attire and accessories, with his body and face painted in various colours, is regarded as a deity, and devotees perceive it as an opportunity to communicate with the divine. The performance is often accompanied by dance, music, and percussion instruments like the chenda which add aesthetic quality to the act.

The study aims to understand the role played by ritual performance in promoting community solidarity and safeguarding the cultural identity of the Kurichiya. The study employs the method of close analysis of the performance through multiple field visits, incorporating interviews and observation of the ritual. The theoretical postulates of performance studies, viz liminality, restored behaviour, and social drama, are used to understand the ritual and its effect on Kurichiya culture and identity. The paper, by emphasising the performance aspect of ritual, underscores its impact on shaping individual experiences and collective identity within an indigenous community amid rapid changes.

Keywords: Ritual, Malakkari Thira, Kurichiya, Performance Studies