Pillai Theeni Theyyam: On the raised earthen platform, the demon bows over the seated "pregnant" woman, while holding a flapping white chicken in his right hand above the pregnant woman’s head. His skirt of split palm leaves reaches almost to the ground, and flames no longer burn in his split palm leaf headdress. He is no longer restrained by ritualists from attacking the pregnant woman, as he has accepted their offering of a white chicken, instead of the unborn child’s fetus. He The woman sits behind a bunch of areca blossoms held in front of her abdomen. A Pulluvan ritualist pours offerings over her head, perhaps to protect her from the demon. Ceṇḍa (chenda) vertical drums and smaller viku ceṇḍa drums and cymbal players play standing to her right on the raised earthen platform. Spectators stand in front of the opening of the backstage curtain. The demon is played by the Malayan dancer and teacher P.K. Panicker (Pallipurattu House, Kizhara PO, Cannanore. Malayan and Panan communities).
View of the smooth wooden vayanam (plectrum) for the Pulluvan kudam instrument, held by scholar L. S. Rajagopalan, who is shining his flashlight on the plectrum. At a Sarpam Thullal Pulluvan Serpent Ritual which was held at a Sarpa Kaavu (snake grove) in a private home in Peramangalam village.
At the home of Suresh Kumar (Pillai): “Lakshmi Nivas. Neelakantan.” L. Velammal (age 80+, Suresh Kumar’s grandmother - father’s mother). She sang the oppāri death lament #2. Event 27 is the oppāri re-recording of the A. A. Bake 1938 recording Tefi# 21.7: “Death wail," sung by Perari Ma and Uccimali, Kovalam (Cape Comorin) 6 March 1938.
The goddess Kali surrounded by ceṇḍa (chenda) player during a part of the performance that took place among members of the audience. Pazhur Damodara Marar and party. Musicians: Kuruppanmar Marar. Pazhur Damodara Marar and party. Musicians: Kuruppanmar Marar.
Induced enactment of a Haranśikārī (Haran Shikari, Haranshikari) ritual dance. A man in white plays a daf frame drum, a bearded man dances while holding a sword above his head with both hands. The sword is a Haranśikārī cultural symbol. At Gangadhar Nagar.
An aṅkakkāran (fighter) character dancing with the light of two torches and the nilavilakku (lamp) behind him. Thirayāṭṭam, "colorful dance," is a divine ritual dance-drama of the South Malabar district in Kerala state that blends dance, drama, songs, instrumental music, masking, and facial and bodily makeup.
During a break in the annual household Sarpam Thullal Pulluvan Serpent Ritual held at a Sarpa Kaavu (snake grove) in a private home in Peramangalam village, O. K. Raman, the Sarpa Thullal serpent ritual musician, demonstrates a Pulluva vīṇā kunju bowed chordophone. An udumbu (uṭumpu ) monitor lizard skin covers the vīṇā kunju wooden body. >Sarpam Thullal (Dance of Snakes), is a mystical ritual of Kerala performed by a community called “Pullava,” and is performed to appease snake gods and bring prosperity to a family. The songs are called “Pulluvan Pāṭṭu.”
