Oppana

Understand

Where Oppana comes from

Oppana is a popular form of social entertainment among the Mappila (Kerala Muslims) community, prevalent throughout Kerala and especially in the Malabar region. The term is believed to be derived from the Arabic word Affna. Oppana is traditionally performed at important cultural ceremonies and is a central component of Mappila weddings. The form has been revived in recent decades on the performing stages of school and college Youth Festivals across Kerala, and is documented in the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music and in the journal Indian Folklife.

How it's practiced

Oppana is generally presented by a group of about fifteen women, including musicians, around a bride on her wedding day. The bride sits at the centre on a peetam (chair), heavily ornamented with gold and her palms and feet patterned with mylanchi (henna). The women stand in a circle around her, clapping rhythmically and singing Mappilapaattu songs in Arabi Malayalam (a blend of Arabic and Malayalam) that gently tease the bride and touch on the shyness of married life. Harmonium, tabla, ganjira and elathaalam provide the instrumental accompaniment. There are two forms — Oppana chayal (no clapping) and Oppana murukkam (with clapping) — and on occasion a male version of Oppana is performed for the bridegroom just before he leaves for the bride's residence.