Part 3 - The Palis
Palis bring the ritual objects
The yakadura calls on the Palis to arrive one by one. Neither evil or benign, their role is to bring with them the ritual object they are named after.
The origins and uses of the ritual objects are told in song by the yakadura and in conversation with the pali. After this respectul start, the audience laugh as the clever yakadura makes the palis look silly and foolish.
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Salu Pali
Carries the long white cloth used in other parts of the ritual.
Kendi Pali
Appears as an old man carrying a pot of water used for purifying and bringing the excorcists out of trance.
The patient laughing at the pali
Samayama scares demons away, accepts a cock as substitute
Anguru Dummala Pali
This pali brings dummala. Sudden flames are produced when powdered dummala is thrown over the torch. This puries whatever it is waved at and scares away demons.
Tambili Pali
Tambili is the King Coconut seen at the patient's feet.
After praying at the altar (right of main picture) to the demon king Ishwara, a servant is sent the demons are afraid of. This is Samayama.
Samayama performs the Double Torch dance, shouting and flaming the torches to scare the demons and make them leave.
A cock is a common feature at these ceremonies. Although demons prefer humans, they can be persuaded to accept a cock as a substiute as they are also creatures walking on two legs. He takes a cock and 'eats' it, also placing it on the patients head to draw out pollution. By doing this he accepts the cock as a substitute for the patient.
The second dishtiya
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With the major demons gone, the yakadura enters a state of dishtiya once again. This time to search out any last remaining influences and get rid of them. The spirit energetically dances and chants, filling the room with dummala smoke before ordering the demons to take the now polluted cock (top right)
Mandadpawilla (below) Now the chief yakadura lays on a mat underneath a cloth, as if dead. The cock has been offered to the demons, now it is placed at his feet. A pumpkin is placed on the yakadura's chest to draw out evil. The patient cuts it with the sword thus destroying the evil.
The main part of the ceremony is over - the demons and evil influences have been banished.
Now the patient, family and household must be purified and protected from further harm in the final rituals that take place before dawn.
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