Bhuta Kola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chamundi Daiva

ritual dancer with makeup of jumadidaiva

ritual dancer preparing himself with the makeup and tying the ornaments before start of the kola ceremony

ritual dancer tying the siri - palmleaves skirt

patri priest at the kola ceremony

Daivasaana the shrine of the holy spirit at Belle Badagumane,udupi

Bhta kla or spirit worship is an ancient ritual form of worship prevalent among the Tulu-speaking
community in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Kodagu districts inKarnataka and Kasaragod
taluk in Kerala alternatively known as Tulu Nadu. It has close a resemblance to theyyam, a ritual
form of worship common among Malayali ofNorth Malabar.
With bhta referring to a class of supernatural spirits and kla referring to a ceremony for the bhta,
the further understanding is that "a bhta kla is performed to appeaase and solicit assistance from
the spirit(s)[1] remaining an ancient ritual of spirit worship. Such ritual forms of worship remain as
ancient practices intended for the blessings of the supernatural not unlike "in Indus Valley and other
ancient civilizations, mother goddess had been invoked for fertility and prosperity" [2]
The coastal Karnataka is known for two art forms, namely bhta kla, a highly stylised version of the
ritual dance of the spirit impersonator and a fine tradition ofyakagna, creating a world of divine and
supernatural beings with all the paraphernalia of costume, make-up, music, dance and dialogue.

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ South Asian Folklore : An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, by Peter J. Claus, Sarah Diamond, Margaret Ann Mills - Taylor & Francis, 2003 p. 64-65 [1]

2.

Jump up^ A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume
- K. K. Kusuman - Mittal Publications, 1990 - p.130"[2]"