POORAKALI

Poorakali is a temple ritual dance performed during festivals in Bhagavathy temples, mainly in north Kerala. The theme of Poorakali is the rebirth of Kama, the god of love, and the resultant enjoyment to the people. Kama was burnt by the third eye of Siva, and the people were in love lost mood. The rebirth retrieves the lost love and enjoyment.

Poorakali is a conglomeration of martial art, dance, music, poetry and philosophy.

A portion of the Poorakali humorously enacts how Siva and Parvathi approach Indra, the celestial ruler, in the guise of a Pulluvan and a Pulluvathy to procure land and seeds for cultivation on earth. It also depicts Indra showering rain on earth for a good crop yield. In Poorakali this episode is known as Andum Pullum.

Musical instruments used are Chenda, Maddalam, Horn and Cymbal.