People from various walks of life thronged the temple village of Pallasana near here on Saturday afternoon to witness Avittathallu, a traditional wrestling form that blends machismo, youthfulness, and rural simplicity.
More than 200 youngsters took part in this version of wrestling in which stamina and physical prowess of combatants are put to test.
This barehanded combat is an annual ritual handed down through generations and is held a day after Thiruonam. Though Avittathallu is performed in many parts of Thrissur and Palakkad, Pallasana has a large following, even drawing enthusiasts from far-off places.
Though it has turned symbolic and ritualistic over the years, the combatants exhibit extreme enthusiasm though the performance is devoid of its fierce ‘history’. The Kirathamoorthy temple premises at Pallasana is the venue of the event.
“Believed to have originated from Kalari, Avittathallu is a social skill handed down to a new initiate by the male members of the families involved. It is a barehanded fight where the combatants face each other without any weapon. Men are dressed in dhotis or plain white cloth worn high like tight shorts around their waist,’’ says Pallasana Dwaraka Krishnan, a local folk art performer.
Legend has it that Avittathallu evolved to keep alive the memory of a battle waged by the villagers against Kuthiravattathu Nair, chieftain of a nearby area, who killed a local chieftain Pallasana Kuroor Nampidi by treachery.
Both the chieftains were subservient to the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Enraged at the murder of their chieftain, the villagers of Pallasana went on the rampage and destroyed the entire fortune of Kuthiravattathu Nair.
It is believed that the villagers approached the Zamorin seeking supernatural powers to keep “wicked” persons such as Kuthiravattathu Nair at bay.
The Zamorin gave them a bronze statue of Kiratha Moorthi, the presiding deity of Balussery Fort.
“The wrestling competition carries a message against people who employ dishonest ways to capture power, position, and money. It also helps people to remain vigilant against external aggressors,” says V. Sudheesh, a local resident.
Over 200 youngsters took part in Avittathallu, a traditional wrestling form that blends machismo, youthfulness, and rural simplicity
