Arts

  Culture

Chiratala Ramayanam is a dance form performed with the accompaniment of "chiratalu", during the Sri Rama Navami festival. This is an offshoot of the chiratala Bhajana. The performers dance in circular movements called "Gundam" with a constant rhythm produced by the striking of the chiratalu. The performance is carried out at a place that has a singing area and a stage area that is slightly raised above this area.

A leader called the ‘budderi khan’ who uses his whistle to indicate a change in the gati and prasthara (the tempo) heads the show. He sometimes gives a comic touch to the to the otherwise serious conversation. The characters introduce themselves to the audience through an introductory song called the ‘pravesa daruvu’ that is followed by a dance in a fast pace. The dialogues are carried out in the form of a song called the ‘samvada daruvu’. There exists a chorus that serves the purpose of narrating the incidents in the performance. The song ends with a panegyric to Lord Rama like ‘Ramachandra Maharajki Jai’.

Original themes comprised of episodes of Ramayana. But now themes like Bhagavatha, Mahabharatha, Balanagamma and Kammama have also been included.

Chiratalu is hand instrument that is held in the right hand. It has two long wooden pieces in an oval shape at the ends. These ends have two round in plates that produce a tinkling sound.