 |
|
 |
 |
The Koodal Manickyam temple at Irinjalakkuda and the Vadakkumnatha temple at Thrissur are the main centres where Kootiyattam is still performed annually. Ammannoor Madhava Chakkiar is an unrivalled maestro of this rare art. |
|
Gina Blau was given the title of Natyakala Bushanam by Chockalingam Pillai's Indian Institute of Fine Arts, the first non-Indian to be so honored. |
|
A 12th century inscription records a Chola King ordering worshippers to stand behind the manikkam devadasi. |
|
The rise of the hereditary dancing caste attached to the temple is fully attested by an inscription of Raja Raja Chola about settling 400 of them round the Tanjore temple. |
|
In 1997, Milena Salvini's video film on “Kudiyattam” won the international video dance competition, a section of the International Dance Council, UNESCO. Her aim was to draw the attention of foreigners to this rare art form and create awareness for it the world over. |
 |