THIRA - ART AND CULTURE
News: Thira
begins in Kerala
What's in the news?
● An
artist performing the 'Nagaraja Thira' at the Sree Muchilottu temple,
Kuthiravattom in Kozhikode.
Key takeaways:
● 'Thira', like Theyyam, is
a ritual dance. While the person in Theyyam is
considered god, the person taking part in 'Thira' is considered as possessed by
god.
Thira:
● Thirra
or Theyyam thira is a ritual dance performed in "Kaavu"(grove) &
temples of the Malabar region in Kerala State, South India.
● This
art form is performed by the artists of malaya (the artist who recognized for
performing the art form called as a "perumalayan") community.
● The
Thira is also considered as the symbolic
representation of the goddess who visits each home to chase away the evil
spirits and bless the family.
● Thira
brings the gods to life. Performers dress up with ceremonial facial paint and
loud clothing and dance in front of the deity, the bhagavathi.
Theyyam thira:
● Theyyam
thira is main sub division of Theyyam.
● It
is similar to the Theyyam dance performed in the same region, except that in
Theyyam the performer is considered as the god he is representing, while in
Thira the performer is considered as to be possessed by god.