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Kathakali performer (3rd place winner - Creative Challenge Eyes)

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Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of Kerala, South India, which dates from the 17th century and is rooted in Hindu mythology. A traditional performance takes place in a temple, it begins in the evening and continues throughout the night, culminating at the auspicious hour of dawn, when Good finally conquers Evil. In Kathakali, the story is enacted purely by the movements of the hands and by facial expressions and bodily movements. A Kathakali actor uses immense concentration, skill and physical stamina, gained from training based on Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala, to prepare for his demanding role.Training can often last for 8-10 years. Dancers also undergo special practice sessions to learn control of their eye movements. They have daily sessions of eye exercises and gymnastics from 3 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. which end up with an oil massage. This is a special feature of the training in which the teacher, holding to a bar, massages the student with his feet and toes, working oil into every joint and muscle. The process is painful, but it does create the required fitness and flexibility of body. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. The make up is made from various mineral ores and pigments. They are ground on a stone and mixed with coconut oil before being applied on the face. Some characters also have their features enhanced, such as an enlarged nose or an elaborate mustache. Dancers also often place a chundanga seed under their lower eyelid before the performance to turn the white of their eyes red. This redness, which is not painful and lasts for about five hours, greatly enhances the expressions of the eyes which play such an important part in Kathakali acting.

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88 comments

  • Great mask!

    said photo of dianeaub dianeaub 5 months 24 days ago

  • Colorful mask with great eyes.

    said photo of akoene100 akoene100 2 months 1 days ago

  • Great mask, good entry,

    said photo of annedm1 annedm1 2 months 1 days ago

  • Great eye's

    said photo of mypinklotus mypinklotus 2 months 1 days ago

  • Intersting story behind the wild eyes... Jim

    said photo of police370 police370 2 months 1 days ago

  • Great mask and really interesting shot and caption!

    said photo of dcrrld dcrrld 2 months 1 days ago

  • The eyes certainly stand out amid the riot of color in this mask!

    said photo of bigsister861 bigsister861 2 months 1 days ago

  • An good photo that goes with an interesting story. Thanks for sharing this. I learned about something I didn't know before.

    said photo of LittleMAbbey LittleMAbbey 2 months 1 days ago

  • What a colorful costume and piercing eyes.

    said photo of Brian_53 Brian_53 2 months 1 days ago

  • Great shot.

    said photo of Felkos Felkos 2 months 1 days ago

  • Great entry! Cheers and good luck, Andrei

    said photo of andrei_sky andrei_sky 2 months 1 days ago

  • very colorful

    said photo of tigerlady96 tigerlady96 2 months ago

  • Great and colourful mask!

    said photo of haneveercoremansshots haneveercoremanssh... 2 months ago

  • Great mask, scary eyes. Good luck!

    said photo of DeniseMichard DeniseMichard 2 months ago

  • Quite a makeup job and great description of the story behind this photo.

    said photo of woolcarder_bee woolcarder_bee 2 months ago

  • Great and wonderful shot, here!

    said photo of huguette296100 huguette296100 2 months ago

  • Wow, this is such an historic and elaborate costume and make-up ritual! The brilliant and intricate effect is well worth it.

    said photo of faranya100 faranya100 2 months ago

  • Great story!! I like the photo also what an great show!! The eyes are really big!! Succes in this challenge!!

    said photo of iahuis iahuis 1 months 30 days ago

  • very nice photo!

    said photo of lnayvelt lnayvelt 1 months 30 days ago

  • A picture- and face- that says a thousand words. Very nicely done!

    said photo of kidlib1 kidlib1 1 months 29 days ago

  • Scary eyes in this colourful mask, great shot!

    said photo of detlefbecher detlefbecher 1 months 29 days ago

  • Very interesting background story on this photo. Great eye detail and overall color. Congratulations on winning third place in the eye creative challenge! Rachel in Ohio

    said photo of rachel7119 rachel7119 1 months 27 days ago

  • This is an excellent caption and explanation to go with your entry. Wonderful capture! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on winning third place in the creative challenge eyes!

    said photo of marionw104102 marionw104102 1 months 27 days ago

  • Congrats in your third placement for the creative challenge eyes! Well deserved!

    said photo of 98harleygirl 98harleygirl 1 months 27 days ago

  • Congratulations on 3rd place in the Eyes Challenge...best regards...Graham

    said photo of gtjeddah gtjeddah 1 months 27 days ago

  • Congratulations on 3rd place in the challenge, great choice

    said photo of lynnie440 lynnie440 1 months 27 days ago

  • Congratulation on yours # 3 place in the challenge!

    said photo of dcrrld dcrrld 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations for being in the winner's circle with this extraordinary capture!! Thank you for sharing this unique shot and the incredibly informative explanation!

    said photo of seawitchinak seawitchinak 1 months 26 days ago

  • Very nice shot and the explanations are so interesting. Congratulations on the third place in the challenge. Best wishes.

    said photo of sleyla sleyla 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your 3rd place win in the Eyes challenge. The image is very powerful with the intense expression and the vivid colours. Great capture. Cheers, Sandra.

    said photo of sigfusson sigfusson 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your third place in the challenge with this lovely and colourful picture.

    said photo of haneveercoremansshots haneveercoremanssh... 1 months 26 days ago

  • Very impressive! CONGRATULATIONS on being featured in CHALLENGE! Good luck in future! From Russia with love, Alex.

    said photo of russpsych russpsych 1 months 26 days ago

  • Hello Tamara, Congratulations to be third winner in the CC-Eyes! A beautiful shot and really wild and great eyes in his colorfull face! Enjoy your day, warm greetings from Holland, Yoke

    said photo of _yoko12 _yoko12 1 months 26 days ago

  • What a stunning shot, and an obvious winner of the Creative-Challenge-Eyes. Well done! And I also loved the history to go with this picture, it always helps. Great! Don.

    said photo of donalddavisuk donalddavisuk 1 months 26 days ago

  • Hi Tamara, Congratulations on your place in the Eyes Challenge. Have a good day, Tony.

    said photo of a90six a90six 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your third place in the challenge-eyes :)

    said photo of tonymm6491 tonymm6491 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on 3rd place in the Eyes Challenge

    said photo of arrowman617 arrowman617 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your winning shot

    said photo of lnayvelt lnayvelt 1 months 26 days ago

  • Wow,So happy for you!!! Great to see this Dansers Eye in the winning list for the Eye challenge. I was not surprised. It is an absolute winners photo for me!! Bye...Ien

    said photo of iahuis iahuis 1 months 26 days ago

  • I knew this was going to be in the top 3! Great job and congrats on the 3rd place finish in the creative challenge. Way to go!

    said photo of kidlib1 kidlib1 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on 3rd in the eye challenge... Jim

    said photo of police370 police370 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulation on yours # 3 place in the challenge! Marco

    said photo of mmarco1954 mmarco1954 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on winning third place in the Creative Challenge: Eyes! Thanks for sharing.

    said photo of lovejoy lovejoy 1 months 26 days ago

  • The image is of excellent quality, Tamara! Thank you also for the very interesting story, absolutely captivating! Congratulations for being one of the winners in the latest creative challenge!

    said photo of tanaka62 tanaka62 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congrats to you on a very impressive capture and informative history regarding it. Well Done!

    said photo of dlbweb dlbweb 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your success in creative-challenge-eyes. John

    said photo of woodeye518 woodeye518 1 months 26 days ago

  • congratulations! good work! mary

    said photo of gingyjaye gingyjaye 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your 3rd place win in creative-challenge-eyes!

    said photo of marionly marionly 1 months 26 days ago

  • congratulations! beautiful photo

    said photo of paolagna paolagna 1 months 26 days ago

  • many congratulations....wonder ful colours here, and interesting shot and story. cheers, Lorraine

    said photo of lorrainemx lorrainemx 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations!

    said photo of jade_ca jade_ca 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your 3rd place in this week challenge

    said photo of mypinklotus mypinklotus 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations!

    said photo of andrei_sky andrei_sky 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations!

    said photo of bmanis51 bmanis51 1 months 26 days ago

  • Hi Tamara!!! I'm so thrilled for you!!! Congratulations!!!!! Spectacular photo and I loved reading the story behind it!! Your friend here looks positively menacing ... was he representing good or evil?? Wonderful, wonderful image!!! Now go grab those red shoes of yours (I KNOW you have red shoes!!) and start doing The Happy Dance!!!!! Best regards ... Lois

    said photo of gloridays gloridays 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on your third place finish in the challeng, very colorful, and well done indeed...Larry

    said photo of umpa1 umpa1 1 months 26 days ago

  • Beautiful shot, congratulations

    said photo of papomena papomena 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on third place in the eye, and such detail in the comment.. regards Susan

    said photo of poppy1812 poppy1812 1 months 26 days ago

  • Photographically...an EXCELLENT capture! Worth being published in a travel guide on India! And....thank you so much for all the information that makes the shot so much more meaningful!Congratulation s for being one of the winners in the latest creative challenge!

    said photo of shukun20 shukun20 1 months 26 days ago

  • Congratulations on third place. Very nice capture. Blessings, Gloria Queens, NY

    said photo of angeljo115 angeljo115 1 months 25 days ago

  • Congratulations on your 3rd place in the challenge!

    said photo of oomt oomt 1 months 25 days ago

  • Congratulations on your winning entry! The colors in this photo are spectacular!

    said photo of DeniseMichard DeniseMichard 1 months 25 days ago

  • Congratulations out standing

    said photo of mirlen101 mirlen101 1 months 19 days ago

  • Fantastic image.. Real moods of the art.. Wish you the best:)

    said photo of Japiey Japiey 1 months 15 days ago

  • WOW!! Thanks for sharing with us!

    said photo of mandarina_82 mandarina_82 1 months 11 days ago

  • And I thought I wore some headpieces in Vegas ! Great photo and info !! Kathy

    said photo of kkroll5 kkroll5 1 months 11 days ago

  • Congratulations on the featured picture in the Travel channel today. Wonderful capture! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your day, Ladislav (Czech Republic)

    said photo of fukal_ladislav fukal_ladislav 1 months 1 days ago

  • It is an arresting expression and a fabulous shot! Thank you for the wonderful commentary on their culture, it is fascinating! Congratulations on your wonderful feature in the Travel channel! I wish you a fantastic weekend! Sharon

    said photo of ourjrny ourjrny 1 months 1 days ago

  • Oh!! And congratulations on your winning entry in the Creative Challenge as well!!

    said photo of ourjrny ourjrny 1 months 1 days ago

  • CONGRATULATIONS on your featured POTD,have a good Day in the spot light thanks for sharing.Essex England

    said photo of Brightlingsea Brightlingsea 1 months 1 days ago

  • CONGRATULATIONS Tamara featured POTD in Travel! This is fantastic, Yoke

    said photo of _yoko12 _yoko12 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations on your travel featured photo... Jim

    said photo of police370 police370 1 months 1 days ago

  • Tamara!!! This fabulous shot's in the spotlight again!!!!! Featured Photo today in Travel!!!! WOO HOO!!! Congratulations, hon!!!! Happy Dance time again!!! Best regards ... Lois

    said photo of gloridays gloridays 1 months 1 days ago

  • Well you made again this time with the featured POTD. Congratulations for this great shot and POTD, Linda

    said photo of tigerlady96 tigerlady96 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations on being featured in Travel! Thanks for sharing.

    said photo of lovejoy lovejoy 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations on your featured POTD in the Travel section. Very brilliant colours.

    said photo of bearfolk bearfolk 1 months 1 days ago

  • Wow! The picture is wonderful and the story you have shared is very interesting! Thank you for sharing.

    said photo of blissfulviolet blissfulviolet 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congrats one more time on featured

    said photo of lnayvelt lnayvelt 1 months 1 days ago

  • Tamara, this is a great picture! So colourful and crisp in focus. Way to go, girl! Congratulations on the POTD in Travel section.

    said photo of suresh_krishna suresh_krishna 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations on your featured photo! Is very good shot! Matso likes it too and sends you special greetings!

    said photo of tonymatso tonymatso 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations on your featured POTD in travel. Excellent image! John

    said photo of woodeye518 woodeye518 1 months 1 days ago

  • Very colorful shot Tamara! CONGRATULATIONS on being featured as members' choice album in channel! Good luck in future! From Russia with love, Alex.

    said photo of russpsych russpsych 1 months 1 days ago

  • Hi! Congrats on having this prize winning photo featured in the travel channel. Have a great day!

    said photo of kidlib1 kidlib1 1 months 1 days ago

  • Hello, CONGRATULATIONS on being a featured POTD, this is a great shot, thank you for sharing, take care Ann (Chester England)

    said photo of annedm1 annedm1 1 months 1 days ago

  • Fantastic Feature, so is the whole album!!!! Congratulations...;) Susan

    said photo of swtsoftcountry swtsoftcountry 1 months 1 days ago

  • Congratulations my friend on being featured POTD enjoy your day -Jay

    said photo of Jayramji Jayramji 1 months ago

  • Belated congratulations with this POTD in travel! Best regards, Henri and Josee

    said photo of haneveercoremansshots haneveercoremanssh... 28 days ago

  • OH MY GOODNESS. I love that! I want someday to be painted like that.

    said photo of maryallsion255 maryallsion255 27 days ago

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