Kalaripayattu is the comprehensive system of the marital arts of Kerala regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific in the world. Even kung-fu is believed to have originated from Kalaripayattu. For the Culture enthusiasts, Kerala has much to offer. Kerala's history and culture dates back to centuries. Ancient rulers of the State took special interest in promoting the art and culture of the State.

  beautiful mix of dance, drama and music that the connoisseurs of art world qualified as 'a total art form of immense sophistication and power'. Kathakali Kathakali means "story Dance" i.e " In Kathakali, the make-up is very elaborate and intricate, and each character has a set mode which is strictly observed. Red green, black, yellow, orange. These are the predominant colours in Kathakali make-up. The colours used have a significance and a direct bearing on the characters. This is based on the concept of three gunas, namely satvik, rajasik and tamasik.

Here exists an elaborate ritualistic ceremony called Pampinthullal (serpent dance) conducted for propitiating the serpent gods. This ceremony takes place during the Malayalam months of Kanni, Thulam, Kumbham and Medam. The Ayilyam (the Aslesha star) on which falls the birthday of serpents is held auspicious for the serpent dance ceremony.

A dance evolve from the martial culture, is performed in some temples as a spectacle during festivals in which the whole village participates. This dance originated in Ambalapuzha which gained importance in the16th century AD as a coastal principality ruled by a Brahmin Raja having the family name 'Devanarayana'.

Kalam in the Kali cult, denotes a floor painting of the goddess. Before the form of the goddess is painted, a Chakra in the tantrik structure is drawn using two colours, white and yellow made respectively of rice and turmeric flour. On the north eastern corner (minakon) is the place in which the image of Kali is proposed to be drawn.

This is a more elaborate and dramatic form of ritual dance in which the Kali cult emerges in all its entirety. This is Mudiyettu, the portrayal of the fight between Kali and Darika, ending up with the slaying of Darika. Mudiyettu begins with Kalamazhikkal (wiping out of the floor painting). Mudiyettu literally means the placing of the crown on the head.

In Kottamuri, the cow is held as the symbol of prosperity of the village. The vegetative cult find its identity with the social context in the form of a ritual in which a young boy is made up as Kotamuri. A protruding wooden cow face is fitted on a frame tucked into the boys waist. A couple or so of jesters wearing masks painted on green sheaths, dance to the rhythm of songs by the accompanying singers.
 

It is a group dance with the dancers holding sword and shield made of wood. With a major stress on the Kerala folk tunes, the rhythmic mould of these being shaped from the meaningless syllables which form the language of the folk instruments. The dancers tie a string of bells around the ankles and they move in a circle. For Parichamuttukali, the dancers have to undergo rigorous training in Kalari.

This is a Martial art In the feudal society of Kerala there were suicide squads, whose motto was to kill or get killed. These dare-devil type of soldiers were known as Chaverpada. The members of the squads were dedicated to the presiding deities of famous temples and the soldiers were supposed to carry out the orders of the goddess in fighting the enemies.

Among the performing arts of Christians, Margamkali deserves special mention. It is a group dance developed by the Syrian Christians of Kerala. The word 'Margam' means path, way, religion or creed. The real source of inspiration for Margamkali was Kalaripayattu which was very popular when the Christian community had developed the form.

It was introduced by the Raja of Kottarakkara. As the name indicates, this play was based on Ramayana. Ramanattam was in Manipravala style and performed by the Raja himself and his Nayar soldiers. Actually, this was brought into being as a challenge to another form, the Krishnattam, which then held sway. It continued for eight days. Ramanattam is composed in eight parts, each suitable for one night's performance.

called padanilam. Then they perform a martial dance standing in knee-deep water, brandishing swords and shields and splashing water in every direction. Ochira is around 34 km north of Kollam.

NangiarKoothu is a dance form conducted in some prominent Kerala temples purely as a ceremonial ritual, presented by women only. The Nangiars, who are the womenfolk of the Nambiar community, stage the NangiarKoothu in a hereditary tradition. The plot of the NangiarKoothu staged by Nangiars is the story of Srikrishna. It is presented in solo dance style for twelve consecutive days. The nirvahanam by the cheti is performed as NangiarKoothu.

Aravanamuttu is also known as Duffmuttu . It is a group performance popular among the Muslims of Malabar. Duffmuttu is staged as a social event during festivals and nuptial ceremonies. The artistes beat on a quaint round percussion instrument called the Duffu, the leader of the group sings the lead, while the others form the chorus and move in circles. The songs are often tributes to martyrs, heroes and saints. Aravanamuttu can be performed at any time of the day and has no fixed time limit.
 

 ‘Also known as kootthu, this art was earlier performed only by people belonging to the Chakyar community. The performance is essentially a narration of stories taken from mythology using elaborate expressions and dance. It is delivered with the accompaniment of cymbals and mizhavu (a special drum), Elaborate facial expressions and hand gestures follow eloquent declarations and recitals.

This is also a dance form rendered by women folk. The participants unlock their hair and engage themselves in frantic dancing. This is usually in rhythm with the accompaniments that are played along with the folk songs recited.

A dance form essential to the wedding entertainment and festivities of the Malabar Muslims. Maidens and young female relatives sing and dance around the bride, clapping their hands. The songs of Mappilappattu, are first sung by the leader and are repeated by the chorus. The themes are often teasing comments and innuendoes about the bride's anticipated nuptial bliss. Oppana is often presented as a stage item today.
 

Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January). The dance is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy, for this is what brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva.

This art form, the precursor of Kathakali, is rarely staged outside the temple town of Guruvayur. The only troupe that performs Krishnanattom is the Guruvayur Kshetra Kalanilayam Koodiyattom Koodiyattam is a dance traditionally enacted in temples.

is Kathakali's 2000 year old predecessor and is offered as a votive offering to the deity. Kootiyattam literally means "acting together". This is the earliest classical dramatic art form of Kerala. Based on Sage Bharatha's 'Natyasasthra' who lived in the second century, Kootiyattam evolved in the 9th century AD.

This is a kind of musical drama. And it is believed to have had its origin in the Christian community. Evolved during the close of the 16th Century, Chavittunadakom is still a popular item in students' youth festivals. The art form traces its origin to European Miracle Plays.

A folk art mainly of the agrarian classes, Kolkkali is a highly rhythmic dance with the dancers wielding short sticks. A mixed dance in which both men and women participate. The performers move in a circle, striking small sticks and keeping rhythm with special steps. The circle expands and contracts as the dance progress. The accompanying music gradually rises in pitch and the dance reaches its climax .

Poorakkali is a traditional dance ritual performed by men during the nine day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples across Northern Kerala (formerly known as Kolathunadu). The Pooram festival begins with the Karthika asterism and concludes with the pooram asterism of the month of Meenam according to the Malayalam calendar (the sun sign Pisces according to the Julian Calendar) to honour Kamadeva (the god of love).

The Theyyam or Theyyattam is one of the most outstanding ancient dance form of North Kerala. particularly now found in the traditional Kolathunadu, of the present Kannur and Kasargode districts. As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam or God. It is a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important features of a tribal culture. read more (858 words)

The classical dance takes its name from the village Kuchelapuri (a small village about 65 kms from Vijaywada) now known as kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh where it originated as a form of dance drama with religious themes. . It is known for its graceful movements and its strong narrative / dramatic character. The performers should act and speak as well. Originally these dance dramas were performed only by men, but in recent years women too have taken to it.

On mid-thirties that E. Krishna Iyer the freedom fighter, first coined the term ‘Bharathanatyam’ for the then Sadir dance. It is the most widely practised of Indian classical dances in South India, and has its origin in Tamil Nadu. It is the most ancient of all the classical dance forms in India, which are based on Natya Shastra, the Bible of the classical Indian dance. The term "Bharathanatyam" was introduced in the mid-thirties by E. Krishna Iyer and later spread by Rukminidevi Arundale, and is thought to derive from the four syllables, Bhava(expression) Raga(music)Tala(rhythm) Natyam(dramatic art).