Doori Doori, is a significant prayer that marks the beginning of the Kollata ritual performed by the Jenu Kuruba community of Karnataka and Kerala during the Vishu festival. Kollata, translated as "stick dance" in the Jenu Kuruba dialect ("kollaata kolu" - sticks, "aata" - dance), is a vibrant performance traditionally involving a group of men.
A unique aspect of Kollata involves selecting two men who, after prayers like the Doori Doori, become possessed by deities: Soole (female) and Kodangi (male).
Doori Doori specifically functions as an opening prayer to invoke blessings and seek permission from the divine before the performance commences.
The Jenu Kuruba Community:
The Jenu Kuruba people are traditional forest dwellers with a rich cultural heritage. Their name, translating to "honey" in Kannada and their language, reflects their historical occupation of honey collection in the Western Ghats forests. Classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kerala, the Jenu Kuruba community faces marginalization.
Performance Details:
This performance was captured on video in Coorg, and presented by the Girijana Samagra Abhivridhi Kalasamsthe, a cultural organization dedicated to the Jenu Kuruba community.
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Archival Notes:
Community: Jenu Kuruba ( Karnataka, Kerala)
Region: Coorg (performance location)
Festival: Vishu
Ritual: Kollata (Stick Dance) - Doori Doori (Opening Prayer)
Deities: Soole (female) and Kodangi (male) (present throughout Kollata)
Function: Prayer for blessings and permission before the performance
Language: Jenu Kuruba dialect (if known)