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Oppana is a popular form of social entertainment
among the Muslim community of Kerala, south India, prevalent all over, especially
in the northern districts of Kannur, Calicut and Malappuram
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Oppana is generally presented by females,
numbering about fifteen including musicians, on a wedding day. The bride dressed
in all finery, covered with gold ornaments is the chief spectator who sits on a
peetam, around which the singing and dancing take place. While they sing, they clap
their hands rhythmically and move around the bride using simple steps. Two or three
girls begin the songs and the rest join in chorus.
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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
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Harmonium, Tabla, Ganjira and Elathaalam
are the musical instruments employed for this performance. Only the Mappilapaattu
will be sung on the occasion.
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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