Therukoothu
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
An all-night Tamil street theatre of song, dance and dialogue based on the epics, performed in villages of Puducherry and northern Tamil Nadu.
Folk theatreWhere: Puducherry and northern Tamil NaduOccasion: Draupadi Amman temple festivals and village festivals, mostly in summer
| Performed by | Troupes of men, with men also playing women's roles |
|---|---|
| Costume | Large decorated headdresses, painted faces, padded skirts and shining ornaments made of wood and mirrors |
| Music and instruments | Harmonium, mridangam, mukhaveena (a small reed instrument) and cymbals, with a chorus |
How it is performed
- Performances start late at night in an open space near the temple and go on until dawn.
- The kattiyakkaran (narrator-clown) introduces the story and characters and jokes with the audience.
- Actors sing their own lines and dance to the drums, acting out episodes, many from the Mahabharata.
- Stories are often performed as a series over several nights of the festival.
Significance
Therukoothu ('street play') carried the epics to villagers for generations and is closely linked to the worship of Draupadi Amman.