Bhoota Kola, also known as Daiva Kola or Daiva Nēmā, is a ritualistic folk dance that is prevalent among the Hindus of Tulu Nadu and parts of Malenadu of Karnataka and Kasargod in northern Kerala, India. The word "kola" means "play, performance, festival," or "shape/form" in Tulu. The dance is highly stylized and performed as part of "Bhootaradhane" or worship of the local deities worshipped by the Tulu speaking population. Bhoota Kola is limited to a family where all members of the family come together and organize Kola. Other people from the village/town are invited to witness the event and seek blessings.
The ritual performance at a Bhoota Kola or Daiva Nēmā involves music, dance, recital, and elaborate costumes. Recitals in Old Tulu recount the origins of the deity and tell the story of how it came to the present location. These epics are known as pāḍdanas. The secular function of the kola or nēma has been described as a "sacred court of justice".
A Bhoota Kola festival is carried out by professional actors known as "bhoota aradhakas," who don elaborate masks and costumes to represent local spirits or deities. The performer of the Daiva or Bhoota usually wears a skirt of tender palm leaves which is easily flammable and helps them to perform acts with fire. They have experience in performing Kola, are dedicated to it, and are paid for it too. It is believed that during Kola, for a fraction of a second, the real Daivas spirit comes into the person performing it, and they predict or can foresee the future. They are worshiped with utmost respect and dignity.
Most villages have a certain set of people or families that have been coming together for generations to organize these Kolas. Since the responsibility to organize a Kola falls on specific families, these responsibilities also pass on to the male heir of every generation. Kolas also serve as occasions for villagers to donate offerings for their Gods, as the families usually take about a month to prepare for the Kola.
In summary, Bhoota Kola is a ritualistic folk dance that is prevalent among the Hindus of Tulu Nadu and parts of Malenadu of Karnataka and Kasargod in northern Kerala, India. It is a highly stylized dance performed as part of "Bhootaradhane" or worship of the local deities worshipped by the Tulu speaking population. The ritual performance involves music, dance, recital, and elaborate costumes. The secular function of the kola or nēma has been described as a "sacred court of justice." The festival is carried out by professional actors known as "bhoota aradhakas," who don elaborate masks and costumes to represent local spirits or deities. Most villages have a certain set of people or families that have been coming together for generations to organize these Kolas.
