Thrissur: More than a hundred ‘Kummattikali’ teams are preparing to perform for the Onam festival in differ parts of the district. The Kizakkumpattukara region in Thrissur from where the tradition of the colourful mask-dance form of Kummatti began in the district, will witness several teams hitting the road on the afternoon of ‘Thiruonam’ day. The major teams performing here are Vadakkumuri, Thekkumuri, Nalengara Sree Druga, Mukkattukara among others.
“The long green grass worn by the Kummattis has been brought from across the state to our place and has been planted. The grass will be reaped on the eve of Thiruvonam and will be woven manually by artists. The dancers wear skirts woven out of this plaited grass. The masks of Kummattis are also being made. The Kummatti processions will be accompanied by traditional percussion instruments like nadaswaram and shingarimelam,” president of Thekkumuri desam Surendran Ainikkunathu told Deccan Chronicle.
Ainikkunathu, who is also the president of the Kummatti co-ordination committee in Thrissur, said that apart from Kizakkumpattukara region, the Kummatti fest will be held in Patturakkal, Ayyanthole, Maruthoor near Cheroor, Nedupuzha, Cherpu, Anchery and other places. Kummattikali dance is related to the Shaiva myth about ‘Thamma’ (an old woman) who walks with the help of a stick. Thamma is symbolic of every mother.
