Mudiyettu Dance Drama of Kerala

• 30 Dec 2023

Mudiyettu is a ritual theater and dance drama of Kerala that enacts the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika.

• The ritual is a part of the bhagavathi or bhadrakali cult and is performed in Bhagavati temples, usually between February and May, after the harvest.
• The performance is done by members of the Marar and Kuruppu communities, who paint their faces and wear elaborate costumes and headgears.
  • It involves various characters such as Shiva, Narada, Darika, Kali, Daanavendra, Koyichaadar and Kooli .
• The ritual ends with a victorious Kali entering the stage holding the head of Darika, followed by a song of praise to Shiva.
• Mudiyettu is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the second art form from Kerala after Kutiyattam.