Monday, October 15, 2007

Dances of Kerala - Oppana

Oppana is makeup. This is dance by Muslims girls while doing bridal makeup. It is an all girls' performance in the bridal chamber. Friends and other girls of the bride's age sing to the rhythm of clapping hands in fast tempo and dance teasing the bride on the eve of marriage preparing her for the ceremony doing her face make up, manicuring and applying henna on the palms and feet.

Sometime Oppana is also presented by males to entertain the bridegroom. It usually takes place just before the bridegroom leaves for the bride's residence where the Nikah (marriage) takes place or at the time he enters the Maniyara.
The word Oppana may have been derived from an Arabic form Afna. There are two types of Oppana, one is Oppana Chayal another is Oppana Murukkam. When Oppana chayal is performed, they do not clap their hands. If it begins with Chayal it would also end with Chayal only.

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