Bhootha Kola or spirit worship is an ancient ritual form of worship. Bhoota means ‘spirit’ and Kola means ‘play’ in Tulu. It is basically a spirit worship ritual celebrated by Tulu-speaking people in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka and some districts of Kerala. With bhootha referring to a class of supernatural spirits and kola referring to a ceremony for the bhootha. It is noteworthy in this context that the ‘Kola’ is a kind of Bhootha worship that includes devotion, inspiration and entertainment.
Bhootada Kola is performed by a trained person who is believed to have temporarily become a god himself. They have experience in performing Kola, are dedicated to it and are paid for it too. The performer displays an aggressive outlook, dances fiercely and performs multiple rituals. This performer is feared and respected in the community and is believed to give answers to people’s problems on behalf of the god. Drums and music give company to the dancing and pooja rituals. By praying together during Bhootada Kola, the community seeks God’s blessing, prosperity and riddance of various problems the community is challenged with. It is believed that during Kola, for a fraction of a second, the real Daiva’s spirit comes into the person performing it and they predict or can foresee the future.
They are spirits that protect the village from calamities and make them prosperous. It is believed that the anger of these spirits could bring bad luck. The area is decorated with flowers, mainly jasmine, and firecracker flower (Abbolige/ Abboli) and such others. 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.
The festival begins with the cutting of plantain and is followed by a cock fight, the coming of ‘Bhandara’, flag hoisting, an informal invitation, putting on the make up, wearing the Gaggara, etc. During the ceremony, the people sing a typical song, known as ‘Pad-danas’. These songs are narrative epics that narrate the genesis and proliferation of the Bhootha cult.
The night long ceremonies begins in a well decorated arena or pandal that gives the appearance of a ritualistic stage with the image of the deity and other objects of worship well arranged on one side and the disciplined devotees on the other side. The musicians, accompanied with drums and wind instruments are seated on another side are ready to provide beats of varying tempo for different stages in the processions. The pandal is well decorated with various figures made from palm leaf, mango leaf and areca flower.
There is a saying attributed to the spirits of Tulu Nadu, “Nambidinayan kai budaye. Nambandinayan nambave” or “I shall not leave the ones who believe in me and shall make the non-believers believe in me”. Hence, believe it or not, the cult of spirit.
Bhootada Kola is performed in small local communities in rural parts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. Bhootada Kola is not a tourist event and is not advertised much in mainstream media. However there are no restrictions on who can witness the performances.
Popular Bhoothas:
Panjurli, Bobbarya, Pilipoota, Kalkuda, Kalburti, Pilichamundi, Koti Chennaya are some of the popular gods (Bhootas) worshipped as part of Bhootada Kola.