The
ancient Kolathiri kingdom was known for its patronage
of the development of the distinct arts forms and
culture of North Kerala and in a very distinct way
influenced the evolution of the distinctive cultural
ethos of the entire state of Kerala. Nowhere is it
so visible as in Kannoor. Thaliparamba, near Kannoor,
became a renowned center of learning, enlightenment
and culture during the 14th and 15th centuries, under
the Kolathiri Rajas. As was the case in the olden
days , temples were intimately linked as the icons
of culture and so it was that the famous Thaliparamba
temple developed into a renowned cultural centre.
With the transfer
of the capital of Kolathiri from Thaliparamba to Chirakkal,
this place also rose into prominence as a great centre
of arts. The prevailing social hierarchy, patronage
of the rajas and the role of the temple all contributed
to the gradual evolution of very interesting folk
arts forms. The assimilation of different styles of
Aryan and non-Aryan culture and the influence of Jain
and Buddhist philosophies kindled its growth further.
Though today the caste-based rigid social hierarchy
has gone for ever, the folk arts which originated
then has fortunately remained unchanged. |
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 Folk
dances of great originality and colour evolved among
the large population of the oppressed classes and
the tribals. These were possibly manifestations of
the tribal need to communicate to the ruling classes
their frustrations and social anger. Some folk dances
evolved as a result of their ceremonies to propitiate
their gods, singing and dancing with gay abandon in
the process. Each tribe had its own collection of
folk plays and dances which are performed during festivals.
Among the Adiyans there is a folk play in which an
old man plays on a thundi (drum) and the men sing
and dance to the beating of the drum. Though the women
do not participate in the dance, they join in the
community singing.
The Malayans had among them an interesting form of
mock fighting called Vishanti, in which they use wooden
shields supplied by members of other castes and the
actual Vishanti or blowing was done with the stems
of plantain leaves. This kind of mock fighting has
now practically disappeared. The Malayans have the
Thiyyattom ceremony which consists of dancing with
huge and colourful masks and the Ucchavali ceremony
which is symbolic of human sacrifice. The Paniyars
have their characteristic devil dance, Godamuri. This
is an entertaining folk play of a quasi religious
nature which is performed in the central parts of
Kannoor district by the Malayans who are experts in
devil dancing.
 The
central figure in the performance is a boy in a girl's
make-up enclosed in a frame-work of the spathe of
the arecanut tree modelled in the shape of a cow with
head and tail. The boy is accompanied by a drummer
and a number of men who wear fantastic masks and their
bodies smeared with ashes. The performers recite a
song, the theme of which is the sacredness and the
virtues of the cow and its benefits to mankind. The
cow is called Godaveri from which this ceremonial
play derives its name. The Godaveri group of players
confine their visits to agricultural families, thus
emphasising the character of the play as a fertility
rite. Vedan Padal or Vedan Pattu is a peculiar ceremony
observed in certain parts of the district during the
monsoon month of Karkidakam (July-August) which coincided
with the season of scarcity in Kerala in the olden
days
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Thalassery
is the seat of the martial art Kalari Payattu, the
forerunner of Karate & Kung-Fu. Around 40 Kalary
arenas of the martial art are spread around the district.
Kalari Chikitsa, a special type of physiotherapy treatment
for diseases as well as toning up the body is also
a specialty here.