Margam Kali

Margamkali dance

Margamkali (Malayalam:മാര്‍ഗ്ഗംകളി) is a group dance of Kerala practiced by Syrian Christians who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle among Jews and natives in the 1st century.^[1]

History

There are several different opinions on the origin of Margamkali. Three are:

1. Most probably its derived from “Thiruvathira Kali” a Hindu festival celebrated in the South Indian state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
2. It is traced back to Jewish wedding songs and dance from the diaspora.^[2] Scholars have found common origin among Malabar Jewish dance and songs and the Saint Thomas Christian dance form of Margamkali.^[2][3]
3. It is derived from Sangam kali, a performance dance form of Brahmins.^[4][5]
4. It is derived from the Yathra Kali, a performance art of Nambuthiri Brahmins in Kerala.^[6]

Actually it is derived basically from the group dance of Edessa (Vattakkali), and the influence of south indian martial arts. it is more ancient than the thiruvathirakali and the brahminic culture. "Margam" means path or way or solution in Malayalam, but in the religious context it is known as the path to attain salvation. The process of conversion to Christianity was known as "Margam Koodal" until recently in Kerala.Much of this folk art is woven around the mission of St. Thomas, the Apostle. The original Margam Kali describes the arrival of St. Thomas in Malabar, the miracles he performed, the friendship as well as the hostility of the people among whom he worked, the persecution he suffered, the churches and crosses he put up in various places, etc. These details are incorporated in the various stanzas of the Margam Kali songs. Kerala's Margam Kali is an important element in the age-old and hallowed tradition of St Thomas among the Syrian Christians of Malabar Coast.^[7]

The disparity between the present condition of this form and the early days leads one to assume three important phases in the history of Margamkali. The first phase was the pre-colonization one in which this semi-theatrical form was performed by the Saint Thomas Christians during special occasions. That time Parichamuttu Kali (The sword and shield dance) was a part of it. Later Synod of Diamper curbed and suppressed this native form. During the last seventeenth century, due to the efforts of a Southist priest Itti Thomman Kathanar, the textual part of this form got certain upliftment and care. The Margamkali might have been edited and refashioned into the present fourteen stanza structure during this time. However, till the fag end of the nineteenth century the art form was not very much in practice even though it did exist here and there. But at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of twenteenth century, the form became popular once again and some structural changes took place then. Masters such as Kalarikal Unni ashan, Indumoottil Kocheppu ashan, Indumoottil Kutto ashan were some of them who were responsible for this change and upheaval. By this time puttan Purikkal Uthuppu Lukose compiled and published Margamkali Pattukal in 1910. Then again it had a set-back and during the 1950s to 1970s it was on the verge of becoming extinct. But in the late 1970s once again the Saint Thomas Christians took the initiative to revive and popularise this form.

Performance

A dozen dancers sing and dance clapping around a Nilavilakku wearing the traditional white dhoti ("mundu") and blouse ("chatta"). The lamp represents Christ and the performers his disciples. The performance is usually held in two parts ("padham") and begins with songs and dances narrating the life of St.Thomas, the apostle. It then takes a striking turn with a martial play of artificial swords and shields. Margamkali does not use any instruments other than two small palm size cymbals played by the same person who sings the song. It was originally played by boys, but nowadays women also perform the custom.

Today

Currently both Margam Kali and Parichamuttukali are included in the State Youth Festival of Kerala. This makes these art forms a competitive item in the Four-tier system (i.e. School, Sub District, Revenue and State level) Youth festival. The Margam Kali is performed mainly by the women in cultural shows and by school children in competitions.^[1]

See also

• Parichamuttukali
• Arts of Kerala
• Kerala Folklore Academy

Notes

1. http://nasrani.net/2009/05/04/margam-kali-history-theme-early-reference-and-modern-developments/
2. Neumann K (1998) "Mond, Gott Siva und heiliger Thomas: Die religiöse Gemeinschaft der Knanaya in Kerala" Universität Marburg p 150
3. Vellian, J (1990) 'Crown, veil, cross : marriage rites' in Syrian churches series, vol 15 p 30
4. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1821007.ece?css=print
5. Ulloor Parameswara Iyer - Kerala Sahithya Charithram
6. M.V. Vishnu Namboothiri, Dictionary of folklore, page 529
7. K.C. Zacharia - THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS OF KERALA: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC TRANSITION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

External links