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Ilanjithara Melam is an assembly of percussion performance artists held at ''Ilanji'' (known as Bullet Wood tree
Ilanjithara Melam is an assembly of percussion performance artists held at ''Ilanji'' (known as Bullet Wood tree Mimusops elengi
''Mimusops elengi'' is a medium-sized evergreen tree found in tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and northern Australia. English common names include Spanish cherry,Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Ho ...
) tree at the courtyard of the Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva at city of Thrissur, of Kerala state in India. This temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four side ...
in Thrissur
Thrissur (), formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi and Kozhikode, and t ...
city during the Thrissur Pooram
The Thrissur ''Pooram'' is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala, India. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur every year on the ''Pooram'' (pronounced ) day—the day when the moon rises with the ''P ...
. It is considered one of the best platforms for traditional Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
music and the largest assembly of percussion artistes in any other Poorams. The ''Melam'' in technical exactness and instrumental discipline are the best example of ''Pandi Melam
Pandi melam is a classical percussion concert or melam (ensemble) led by the ethnic Kerala instrument called the chenda and accompanied by ilathalam (cymbals), kuzhal and Kombu.
A full-length Pandi, a melam based on a thaalam ( taal) with se ...
''.
The Melam
The ''Pandi Melam
Pandi melam is a classical percussion concert or melam (ensemble) led by the ethnic Kerala instrument called the chenda and accompanied by ilathalam (cymbals), kuzhal and Kombu.
A full-length Pandi, a melam based on a thaalam ( taal) with se ...
'' of Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple
Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple is one of the largest Bagavathi temples in Kerala located in Thrissur City. Sakthan Thampuran ordained the temples into two groups, namely "Paramekkavu side" and "Thiruvambady side" for Thrissur Pooram which is the ...
is known as ''Ilanjithara Melam''. The ''Melam'' begin at the ''Ilanjithara'' in the Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva at city of Thrissur, of Kerala state in India. This temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four side ...
around 2.30 PM, and goes for around four continuous hours. The base of ''Pandi Melam
Pandi melam is a classical percussion concert or melam (ensemble) led by the ethnic Kerala instrument called the chenda and accompanied by ilathalam (cymbals), kuzhal and Kombu.
A full-length Pandi, a melam based on a thaalam ( taal) with se ...
'' is the ''Tripuda Thaalam''. Correct number of instrumentalists participating in ''Melam'' is 222. But more than 250 instrumentalists assemble because of its prominence and various other reasons. 100 ''Chenda
The Chenda ( ml, ചെണ്ട, ) is a cylindrical percussion instrument originating in the state of Kerala and widely used in Tulu Nadu of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in India. In Tulu Nadu (Coastal Karnataka), it is known as ''chende''. ...
s'' (In ''Edanthala'' and ''Valanthala'' categories), 75 ''Elathalam
Elathalam, or Ilathalam, is a metallic musical instrument which resembles a miniature pair of cymbals. This instrument from Kerala in southern India is completely made out of bronze and has two pieces in it.
Elathalam is played by keeping one ...
s'' 21 ''Kombu
''Konbu'' (from ja, 昆布, konbu or kombu) is edible kelp mostly from the family Laminariaceae and is widely eaten in East Asia. It may also be referred to as ''dasima'' ( ko, 다시마) or ''haidai'' ().
Kelp features in the diets of many ...
'' and 21 ''Kurunkuzhal'' is the number of instruments in each category. There are 7 types of ''Melangal'' viz ''Panchari'', ''Champa'', ''Chempada'', ''Adantha'', ''Anchadatha'', ''Druvam'' and ''Pandy''. ''Adantha Thalam'' (14 Aksharas) is the ''Thalam'' performed in the ''Ilanjithara Melam''.
Chiefs (''Pramanis'') of ''Ilanjithara Melam''
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.
Early life
Peruv ...
is the current Chief of ''Ilanjithara Melam''. He joined Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple
Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple is one of the largest Bagavathi temples in Kerala located in Thrissur City. Sakthan Thampuran ordained the temples into two groups, namely "Paramekkavu side" and "Thiruvambady side" for Thrissur Pooram which is the ...
team in 1977 and later became its leader in 1999. He has been the Chief for 18 years and has been associated with ''Ilanjithara Melam'' for 35 years. Kuzhoor Narayana Marar, another veteran percussionist, was also part of the Paramekkavu team for 41 years. He was its Chief for 12 years.
Chiefs
* Pandaarathil Eachara Marar - 1940s * Peruvanam Narayana Marar * Peruvanam Appu Marar - 1960s * Thrippekkulam Achutha Marar * Pallavoor Appu Marar *Peruvanam Kuttan Marar
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.
Early life
Peruv ...
(1999-)
References