Address:
tirunelveli, TIRUNELVELI ,TAMIL NADU - 627001
About type of art
The kaniyan are a tribal community residing in the Tirunelveli district of TamilNadu, South India. Men from this community are known traditionally as experts in koothu in the annual celebration to worship Sudalai- a folk deity celebrated by the non-tribal communities- in order to invoke the spirit of the deity. Men from the Kaniyan community also work as shamans in the worship of Sudalai. The shaman performs the core rituals of kaivettu(blood sacridice by tearing his hand), theralai koduthal(offering food mixed with blood at the graveyard), kaapu katuthal(wearing a sacred cord),and vetaiku pothal.
Kaniyan Koothu is a dance,music, drama mix art, which is performed by the kaniyan tribal community of TamilNadu. It is a ritual art performed in temples by men which excluded women from performing it. The art is closely linked to the worship of Sudalai Madan( a form of Shiva a deity of the graveyard). Men dressed as female dance about for 2 nights and a day during weddings, funerals and other religious functions. Dance troupe consists of 7 members viz the main singer(annavi),junior singer, 2 drummers, 2 dancers and an assistant.
The narration and singing of this myth in the Kaniyan koothy takes from two to three hours. During this performance the Komarathadigal(Samiyadi) are possessed by the spirit of Sudalai and dance vehemently. They perform divination and offer sacred ash to the devotees. Generally in sudalai kodai several people are possessed by the spirit of Sudalai and dance.The myth of Sudalaimaadan story reveals that the first Kaniyans were created by the Lord siva to perform Kaniyan Koothu for propitiating Sudalimaadan deity in Kailash with the intention of sending him to the earth.
Kaniyan men dress up like women by wearing the saree. They dress up with all ornaments like women.