#bhutakola

[indianfromsouth]

Prohibition on Hindu rituals? Quran recitation? Halal meals? - What to expect in the coming years?

The latest edition of Kerala Schools Youth Festival just concluded at Kozhikode, Kerala. This year's festival was in the limelight, albeit for the wrong reasons. While the most talked about controversy was with regard to the veg meals served, there were other controversies as well. One such controversy largely went unreported in the mainstream media.

This was with regard to the Yakshaganam contest. Yakshaganam is a traditional folk theatre form of South Karnataka and Northern Kerala. Yakshaganam literally means divine music. Stories of Yakshaganam are usually drawn from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavata. It is believed that Yakshagana evolved from the ancient Bhutha-worship prevalent in South Karnataka and Northern Kerala. Remember Kantara, Bhutakola, Theyyam? Does it ring a bell?

This is what happened! There is a traditional ritual carried out by Yakshagana performers before they perform. This is called Chowki pooja. Chowki is basically the green room. In this ritual, the "Bhagavata" (the narrator/main performer) and supporting vocalists assemble before an image of Ganesha, chant invocations, offer coconuts, plantains and perform aarti or puja.

The invocation begins as follows

"Gajamukhadavage Ganapage chelva Trijagavanditanigaaratiyettire"

Translation: O, Lord Ganesha, the beautiful one with elephant’s face For you, worshipped in all the three worlds, we light this sacred flame

After receiving the "prasaada", the 'bhagavata' asks for the deity's/god's permission following which everyone proceeds to the stage. How beautiful! Isn't it? It turns out, that not everyone feels that way!

On the day of the contest, when the performers were doing the chowki puja, one of the organizers barged into the room and disrupted the ritual. It is alleged that the person forcefully blew out the lamp lit for the ritual saying that such pujas cannot be allowed here. Organizers didn't allow media inside, so this was not properly recorded or covered in the media. The performers protested following which police arrived. The performers refused to perform after this, but eventually relented and performed.

Yakshagana Guru, Madhava Nettanige said, "This kind of experience is the first in my 22 years of Yakshagana art life". He also staged a protest asking for an apology from the organizers. He said that even if they forgive the organizers, God will not.

The irony is that this is a festival where there is a contest for "Quran recitation". And no, there is no competition for "Gita recitation" or for that matter, reciting any other holy scripture of Hindus. These are all indicators of things to expect in the coming years! We can soon expect a festival where nonveg halal meals are served (with the exception of pork, for obvious reasons) even if they have to make compromises on the health and safety of children! And don't be surprised if they decide to remove traditional Hindu art forms, while Quran recitation and other Arab cultural contests will continue being normal and perfectly secular.

Hinduism under attack? That's for you to decide!

[arjuna-vallabha]

Panjurli Bhuta mask, Karnataka

[arjuna-vallabha]

Part of ritual worship at Bhuta kola, Karnataka