Kerala dance in the Guinness Book of World Records

Kerala’s unique enchanting folk dance 'Thiruvathira' played together by 5211 female dancers in the same style, pattern, costume, rhythm and beat at the Christ College arena in Irinjalakuda as part of the town's cultural festival yesterday has been declared the world's largest dance show by the Guinness adjudicator Ms Fortuna Burke and has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Congratulations Kerala for putting up the world's largest dance show. The festival was conducted under the auspices of the residents of Irinjakuda led by Mr Thomas Unniyadan MLA (the state legislator) and was attended and enjoyed by tens of thousands of people including the local bishop, civic leaders and various other dignitaries.

For my friends who are not familiar with this dance form, I shall give a brief description. Thiruvathirakali is a traditional dance form in Kerala performed by women complimenting the ‘Thiruvathira paattu’ folk songs which are filled with the messages of joy and love. The word ‘Thiruvathirai’ means ‘the sacred big wave’. The dancers normally dress up in typical Kerala style wearing ‘sari’ or ‘mundu’ and ‘neriyathu’, and adorn their hair with jasmine garlands. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern around a nilavilakku (the elevated traditional lamp) swayed in a rhythmic tune by chanting and clapping of the hands. The sinuous movements executed by the dancers exemplify the affectionate charm and grace of the feminine. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and regeneration and conceptualise it in a simple and elegant artistic manifestation. Thank you.