Kalakat Illam - Kaliyattam in Northern Kerala and Its Significance

Kaliyattam in Northern Kerala and Its Significance

After a Kshetram (temple) has been built and the "prathishta" has been done, in the presence of kshethra ooraalanmaar (owner of the temple), bhaaravaahikal (Committee members), and gramawasikal (local population), kshethra aacharyan (thanthri of the temple) will do Nithya-Nidaanam (daily worship like pooja, special pooja). In case of kalakat illam or similar illams the ooralanmaar and the aacharyan will be the same. Later to commemorate the "prathishta" day every year, thanthri along with the temple committee, with the support of gramawasikal will celebrate Utsavam or Kaliyattam in Northern Kerala or North Malabar. The festival can be planned to be conducted on the same star sign of the prathishta day in subsequent years or any other day which is acceptable to all the people in the village. In Kalakat illam, the prathishta was done years back and no one living now does know when did the kaliyattam start. But its sure that, it is happening at least from last 150 years. Kalakat Illam is not recognized as a temple, but as another illam where there is a sanctum sanctorum and hence is like a temple where devotees come and worship. The kalakat illam can be mapped to a temple for a general overview on festival or the utsavam. An utsavam or Kaliyattam is celebrated to increase the "deva-chaithanyam" (glow of eternal peace) of the temple. In Kaliyattam, as earlier mentioned the vannaans or malayans would do artistic paintings on their body and face. Also with their ornamental costumes, they perform a peculiar dance, which is accompanied by the "pakka-melam" (percussion instruments played along). Hence in North Malabar, in Illams like Kalakat Illam or any other "Kaavu" (also known as Bhoothaalayam), synonym of temple, Kaliyattam is the main festival.