Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (PPC) issued by Thiruvananthapuram General Post Office (GPO-PB), PIN 695001, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. The cancellation design depicts the face mask of Kathakali, Kerala's classical dance-drama art form. Introduced on 01 January 1979. Status: Active.
Kathakali is one of India's oldest and most elaborate classical performing arts, originating in Kerala around the 17th century. Characterized by exquisite makeup (chutti), colorful costumes, and intricate hand gestures (mudras), Kathakali performances narrate stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The distinctive face mask iconography represents different character archetypes — green (noble characters), black and red (villains), and white (divine beings). Recognized as a UNESCO-acknowledged intangible cultural heritage, Kathakali is central to Kerala's cultural identity and is practiced and taught across hundreds of Kalari schools in the state.
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