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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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