Kerala`s culture is a blend of Dravidian and Aryan influences, deriving from both a greater Tamil heritage region and southern coastal Karnataka. Later, Kerala`s culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures. Such regional diersities have given rise to many folk form of arts in Kerala. Out of the many, most prominent ones as given below:

Kakkarissi Kali
This group dance is prevalent among the Kuravas of Thiruvananthapuram district. It is a very loud dance, due to the shouts of the performers. It also contains wild beatings of primitive drums like para, veekkan chenda etc.

Dappu Kali This dance is named as Dappu Kali because "dappu", a kind of musical instrument is used in the dance. It is a group-dance of the Moplahs of Malabar. The performers for this dance must be in even numbers, since they have to form two rows. They beat on the dappu, which each dancer holds in his left hand and dance with graceful movements of the body and astonishing co-ordination of rhythmic steps, flexing the body and timing of dappu.



Sarpam Thullal
Many ancient families in Kerala have Kavus, which are the special snake shrines, whom they worship regularly, on various happy and joyous occasions. They perform the Sarpum Thullal dance to show their respect to him and as an offering for family wealth and happiness. This dance is usually performed in groups, in the courtyard of houses having snake shrines.

Kaavadiyattom
This dance is mainly performed as a votive offering in temples of Lord Subrahmaniam. For performance, a number of dancers gather in temple, dressed in yellow or rose colour costumes. Their body is smeared with lines of ashes and each candidate has an ornate kaavadi on the shoulder. They stand in a row & dance with the rhythmic beatings of instruments like udukku, and chenda and even nagaswaram.

Bhadrakali Thullal
This is a devotional offering of Pulayas and this is the only community who performs this ritual, for Bhadrakali. Special pandals are constructed in the fields after the harvesting is over and the dances are performed. They are quite drawn-out and have numerous phases in singing too.

Vela Kali
This is a martial dance of the Nair community in Kerala. Vela Kali is famous in their respected region. This illuminates ancient warfare in Kerala in all its tradition and valour. The dancers are all dressed in colourful costumes and arming with shining swords and shields, they dance with vigor and coordination. The dance ends with the victory of good evil, as it happens in reality.



Thiyyattu is a devotional offering performed only in the Bhadrakali temples. A group of performers known as Thiyyattunnis are privileged to perform it. The theme behind its performance is usually the killing of Darika by Bhadrakali. The Unnis first draw the picture of Bhadrakali (called Kalam) on the floor, with the help of five different types of colour powers. Then, a dancer, who has the costume and make-up of Bhadrakali dances before the Kalam. This is an additional effort with the accompaniment of devotional songs to Bhadrakali.

Kolam Thullal
This is a ritual offering performed by village people, usually to get rid of the troubles & pains due to evil-spirits. The belief is that, after such an offering is made towards these spirits, the latter stop troubling the people. For the actual performance, a number of characters appear with hideous make-up and big headgears dance along with the music. There are primitive accompaniment percussion instruments that are used to accompany the dance.



Thumpi Thullal
This is a dance in which only women can participate and it is usually performed in connection with the Onam festival. All the girls are dressed in a special type of dress known as Onakkodi dress and dance in a circle. At the centre of the circle the acting performer sits down and she starts few lines of song while others follow in chorus.

Kummi Dance
This is women dance still famous in many parts of Kerala. The dancers move in a circular direction and the hand gestures denote reaping and harvesting process of work. One of the women from a group leads with a favourite song while the rest of the group repeats it afterwards. Each performer renders a new line as their turn comes and the dance stops when all members get tired or bored.

Kaduva Kali
This dance is also known as Pulikali and it is performed during the season of Moharram. Dancers get ready dressed up as tigers along with appropriate costumes & make-up. They dance vigorously along with the loud beating of instruments like Udukku, Thakal.

Kanniyar Kali
This dance is being performed since centuries, but even today, it is a well-known folk dance of Kerala and sometimes even called as Desathukali. It is a fast moving, militant dance having pleasant rhythmic devotional folk songs and asuravadyas. It is said to be a ritual offering in honour of the deity Bhagavathy.

Kuthiyottam Dance
This dance is in vogue in Thiruvananthapuram District, performed mostly in all Devi temples of the region. A total of four participants are needed for the dance, where one performer, wears a crown, similar to that of the `Ottanthulal artist, and three other characters, with three different facial make-ups, dance rhythmically to the background of percussion instruments. Here, the songs are sung in praise of Durga, `Padapattu`, and `Kalaripattu`.

Thirayattom
Thirayattom dance is a ceremonial dance, which is performed as a vital part of festive celebrations in Kavus, in the Central Malabar region. The word Thira means lustre, hence the Thirayattom dance is said to cast radiance by virtue of the God`s gorgeous array. They are usually made up by the blaze of torches and made of clusters of dried coconut fronds.


Arjuna Nritham
Arujuna Nritham is a popular dance form in Alleppy and Kottayam districts. One or two people perform this dance during the night, where the traditional lamp called `Nilavilakku` fulfills the purpose of the lighting. According to a myth, it is said that since Arjuna was proficient in dance among the Pandavas, once he had danced and sung songs praising the Goddess Bhadrakali. The lower part of the costumes of the dance is made up of peacock feathers and hence, the dance is also known as "Mayilpeeli Thookkam".

Kummatti Dance
Kummatti is a mask dance mostly popular in South Malabar region of Kerala. The dancers wear brightly painted wooden masks on the faces while dancing. During the Onam festival, groups of dancers wear masks and adorn their body with the help of leaves and grass and get ready for the dance. They visit all the houses in a village one after the other. In order to provide rhythm and music for the dance, the musicians vibrate the string of a bow-like instrument called onavillu.

Garudan Thookam
This dance form is presented only in those temples, where the Goddess Bhadrakali is worshipped. In this dance, two or three dancers wear the Garuda costume, where the dancers wear feathers and also show artificial snakes in the beak, and dance with their wings spread in circles.

Tholpavakoothu
This is also known as Pavakoothu and Nizhalkoothu. It is prevalent in Palakkad and Ponnani Talukas of Kerala and is traditionally, a dance by the Pulavanmars. Such types of dances are popular in all the sections of the society. This dance uses the pavakal or puppets for the performance, which are made up of deerskin and represent various characters from the Ramayana epic. These puppets are arranged behind a long curtain.

Krishnanattom
It is said that a refinement of Ashtapadiatoom, evolved by Manavedan, the Zamorin was Krishnanattom. This dance is a dance-drama totally devoted to Lord Krishna, where the entire story of Lord Krishna is cast into a drama-cycle. The actors in this dance-drama have to have good command on the ballet element and mimetic expression. The narrative song is a responsibility of the musicians.

Mayil Attam
In this dance, the girls dress up to look like peacocks, glittering with peacock feathers and headdress with a beak. This beak can be opened and closed with the help of a thread tied to it from inside the dress. This arrangement helps in performing various steps. This is a group dance & when performed in coordination grabs the attention of the viewers.

Kazhai Kothu
Kazhai Kothu is a known performance for gymnastic steps. It is specialized form of dance that has originated by the Aryans. This is very similar to today`s circus show. The performers travel in a group from place to place, entertaining the local people and thus earning a livelihood. At the time of the performance, they wear a lot of make-up & wear bright, colourful costumes.

More folk dances of Kerala
Kaikotti Kali / Thiruvathirakali Dance
Tiruvathira Dance
Mudiyettu Dance
Theyyam Dance
Kolkali
Sangha Kali Dance
Margam Kali Dance
Ayyappan Vilakku Dance Poorakkali Dance
Thookkam Dance
Poikkal Kudirai Aattam Dance
Kurathiyattom Dance
Padayani Dance
Parichamuttu Kali Dance Thiyyattu Dance
Kurathiyattom Dance