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Theeyattu is a solo dance-drama performed
in front of the Kalam or Dhooli Chitram
(ritual drawing with coloured powders).
It is enacted in some Bhagavathy temples
of Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Thripunithura and
neighbouring areas. The ritual starts with
the invocation of Lord Ganapathy, Lord Siva
and goddess Saraswathy, after which the
performer dons a crown smaller but similar
to the one used in Mudiyettu.
The most popular story
narrated through a Theeyattu performance
is that of the duel between goddess Kaali
and the demon Daarikan. The dance form is
usually performed by a small group of temple
bound communities called the Unni. Theeyattu
is still a ritual offering made every Friday
at the Pallippurathu Kaavu temple near Kottayam
town.
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