Pulluvan Paattu

Pulluvan Pattu is a form of serpent worship performed by both the lower castes and higher castes, in addition to serpent temples. The pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to serpents. They consider the snake gods their presiding deities and perform sacrifices and sing songs.

A Pulluvan is a male member (female Pulluvatti) of a low caste group called Pulluvar.

The majority among them are called Nagampatikal (people who sing snake-songs). There are pulluvars who are not Naagampatikal. They are known as Pretampatikal (people who sing ghost songs). The women of the houses where the ritual takes place performs the serpent dance (Sarpam Thullal) at the Mulluthara Devi Temple.

Most of the art forms of the Pulluvar are ritualistic. Most of their songs are related to worship, ritual, custom and exorcism. The pulluva art is expressed in the background of snake-worship, ghost worship and magic.

The pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to the serpent worshiping Mulluthara Devi Temple. One group among these people consider the snake gods as their presiding deity and perform rituals such as sacrifices and song singing. This is called ’Pulluvan Pattu’. It performed in the houses of the lower castes as well as those of the higher castes, as well as in serpent temples.

The songs conducted by the Pulluvar in serpent temples and snake groves are called Sarppapaattu, Naagam Paattu, Sarpam Thullal, Sarppolsavam, Paambum Thullal or Paambum Kalam. The main aspects of this are Kalamezhuthu (drawing of Kalam, a ritual art), singing and dancing of Mulluthara Devi Temple.

The women of the house where the ritual takes place performs the serpent dance (Sarpam Thullal). Austerities start seven or nine days before the day of the dance. They avoid eating food items that are considered to be impure.

The canopy (pandal) where the serpent dance takes place is adorned with palm leaves, geranium flowers, jasmine flowers, chrysanthemum indicum, champaka, lotus, banyan leaf, betel leaf, ripe areca nut and branches of coconut flowers. The form of the serpent is drawn with white rice powder and colour powder (black, red, green, yellow). The Pulluvar conduct the ritual around the decorated kalam (the field where the form of the serpent is drawn) in a specific order.