Arjuna Nritham is a ritual art that literally means the “dance of Arjuna.” Men in Bhadrakali temples of Kerala usually perform it, and it is also renowned as Mayilppeeli Nritham as the outfit includes a characteristic garment made of mayilppeeli (peacock feathers). Arjuna Nritham is best performed in the districts of Kottayam and Alappuzha, which are also home to the famed backwaters of Kerala.
Description of Arjuna Nritham
A hero possessing epic qualities, Arjuna was one of the five Pandava Brothers, around whose adventures the famous Indian epic the Mahabharata was written. The dance is a homage to Goddess Bhadrakali, whom Arjuna worshiped. Performed to the accompaniment of music, which too is specially composed to suit the purpose of the dance, Arjuna Nritham has a characteristic style of its own and is a definite must-watch while on a trip to Kerala. Based primarily on rhythm, Arjuna Nritham is made even more special by the characteristic garments of the performers, which consist of clothes made up of peacock feathers.
How Arjuna Nritham is Performed in Kerala
During Arjuna Nritham in Kerala, the performers paint their faces green and wear unique headgears. The dance performance of all night is commonly presented solo or in pairs. Apart from it, the songs which are rhythm are called Kavithangal. You can also hear various Puranas and ancient Hindu scriptures during the celebration. The best part of this celebration is that the performers explained the particular rhythm’s intricacies and translated it into dance movement.
