Chavittunadakam

Chavittu Nadakam

Chavittu Nadakam, is an energetic classical art form of Christians of Kerala. Chavittu meaning kick or stamp and Nadakam meaning drama or play, Chavittu Nadakam is based on either the biblical stories or on the lives of European kings. Though not authenticated it is believed that Portuguese were the ones

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Tholppavakkoothu

Tholpavakoothu

Tholpavakoothu is the Keralite version of Puppetry. It has been practiced as a traditional art the Bhadrakali temple towards northern Kerala – Thrissur, Palakkad and Malapuram districts and has been around since the 18th century. The temples have Koothu Madams where the Tholpavakoothu are performed. Tholpavakoothu literally means play or

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Padayani

Padayani

Padayani is an ancient ritual art form traditionally performed in Bhagavati (Goddess) temples predominantly in central Kerala. It is believed that Padayani was practiced even before the advent of Brahmanism in Kerala. It is regarded as a remnant of the Dravidian culture. Padayani derived from Padeni which means military formation

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Thullal

Thullal literally means jumping or dancing / prance around in Malayalam. Though the term is used with many dance forms of Kerala, some such forms are be classified as Thullal in spirit. Few of them are Ottamthulall One of the interesting dance forms Ottamthullal (Ottam – Run, Thullal – dance)

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Kaikottikkali

Kaikotti Kali

Kaikotti Kali which literally means play / dance by clapping hands is also called ‘Thiruvathira Kali’ which means the dance of Thiruvathira. In this dance women of Kerala perform an elegant and aesthetic dance routine around a lighted lamp in synch to the beats of the song. Though earlier it

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Margam Kali

Margam Kali

One of the folk art practiced by the Syrian Christians, Margam Kali means literally song of the path or solution. In a religious context it can be interpreted as the song that leads or shows the way to God. Margam Kali has been practiced since even before the Portuguese had

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Sopana Sangeetham

Sopana Sangeetham

Sopana Sangeetham is one of its kind in the field of vocal music. Sopanam which means the sacred steps that lead to the Sanctorum and sangeetham is music. The melodious rendition of songs sang in praises of the Gods in Kerala temples is a sight all temple devotees are familiar

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Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu – training in the ‘Kalari’ playing field / arena – is supposedly one of the oldest martial art forms in the world and the ‘Mother’ of all other martial arts. It is believed that the Chinese martial arts was first taught by Bodhidharma, the Buddhist Monk of India and

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Kalamezhuthu

Kalamezhuthu

Kalamezhuthu, prominently found in South Kerala, is an unique three dimensional traditional art. Kalamezhuthu (Kalam Ezhuthu) which translates to drawing of a ‘Kalam’ is done as an offering in worship of Devi, Naga, Sastha etc. It is a very calculated art in which not only the form that is drawn

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Theyyam

Theyyam

One of the colourful and enchanting art forms of Kerala Theyyam is derived from the Malayalam ‘Daivam’ meaning God. It is also known as Kalliyattam (dance for / of Kaali the Goddess) or Thirayattam (dance at thira – village) in different places. Being one of the traditional and oldest ritualistic,

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Sree Poornathrayeesha

Sree Poornathrayeesha and Tripunithura Temple

Sree Poornathrayeesha Poornathrayeesha – the lord of ‘Tripunithura’ is believed to be an unique appearance of the Santana Gopala Moorthy. Legend has that in Dwaparayuga when Sreenarayana, the lord of Vaikunta, wished to see Arjuna and Krishna (the Nara and Narayana) together he made an extremely poor and pious brahmin

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