Paana or Pallippaana, as it is sometimes called, is a ritual art
to propitiate the goddess Bhadrakaali. The art form is popular in
the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. Paana is part
of a three day festival. A canopy is supported by 64 posts of cut
out from the Paala tree ( Alstonia scholaris) and adorned with tender
palm fronds is erected near the shrine of the goddess. A stump of
this tree is ceremonially brought to the site and planted there for
the occasion and a non-figurative kalam is drawn in the centre using
coloured powders. A ceremonial sword is placed on a red silk cloth
under the tree stump to signify the presence of the goddess.
At the end of a series of rites, the oracle arrives and moves in
a trance around the kalam and the pandal (canopy). The para, a variation
of the chenda is the main percussion accompaniment. The dream beats
work up to a frenzy to match the steps of the oracle. Performed during
the night, the ritual lasts for about three hours
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