Arts of Kerala

Iconic Kathakali A vivid dance-drama of painted faces, mudras, and epic storytelling from Kerala’s classical stage. Read more → Iconic Mohiniyattam A graceful classical dance associated with the enchantress Mohini, marked by soft sway and lyrical abhinaya. Read more → UNESCO Koodiyattam Sanskrit theatre of Kerala temples — recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Read more → Iconic Krishnanattam A cycle of dance-dramas on the life of Krishna, traditionally linked to the Guruvayur temple. Read more → Iconic Ottan Thullal A popular classical satirical dance-theatre form created by Kunchan Nambiar. Read more → Seethankan Thullal One of the three Thullal forms, with its own metre, costume colour, and narrative flavour. Read more → Parayan Thullal The third classical Thullal form, completing Kunchan Nambiar’s satirical trio. Read more → Kerala Natanam A modern classical dance idiom drawing on Kerala’s theatre and dance heritage. Read more →

Iconic Padayani Central Travancore’s Bhadrakali ritual — masked kolam dance, satire, and thappu from mid-December to mid-May. Read more → UNESCO Mudiyettu UNESCO-listed ritual theatre of Kali’s battle with Darika — village drama in Bhadrakali kavus after the harvest. Read more → Garudan Thookkam Kali-temple vow ritual — devotees as Garuda dance, then hang by skin hooks in a dramatic “eagle hanging.” Read more → Kalamezhuthu Pattu Ritual songs performed with Kalamezhuthu floor drawings. Read more → Sarpa Pattu Serpent-deity ritual songs of Kerala’s sacred grove traditions. Read more → Bhagavathi Pattu Devotional ritual songs praising the goddess Bhagavathi. Read more → Thottam Pattu Invocative ballads sung before Theyyam — ritual songs that narrate the deity’s legend with chenda and tudi. Read more → Ayyappan Pattu Devotional songs of Ayyappa worship and pilgrimage culture. Read more → Thottampattu Ritual narrative song tradition closely related to Thottam Pattu invocations. Read more → Kaniyan Koothu Ritual performance tradition of the Kaniyan community. Read more → Thee Pandam Fire-torch ritual display in temple festival processions. Read more → Kuthiyottam Vow ritual of boys’ dance and offering linked to Bhadrakali temples. Read more → Kuthu Rathibali Temple ritual offering tradition connected to sacrificial and festival rites. Read more → Velichappadu Oracle of the goddess who speaks and dances in ritual possession. Read more →

Iconic Kalaripayattu Kerala’s classical martial art of strikes, locks, weapons, and healing knowledge. Read more → Parichamuttukali Shield-and-sword martial folk dance performed in circle formations. Read more → Adimurai Southern martial tradition of strikes and locks with deep roots in the Tamil–Kerala cultural zone. Read more → Marmam Techniques Knowledge of vital points (marmam) used in martial practice and traditional healing. Read more →

Sopana Sangeetham Temple music of Kerala, traditionally sung near the sanctum steps (sopanam). Read more → Iconic Panchavadyam Temple orchestra of five instruments — timila, maddalam, ilathalam, idakka, and kombu — with a rising rhythmic pyramid. Read more → Iconic Pandi Melam Classical chenda melam in a seven-beat pandi cycle — the monumental outdoor percussion of Kerala’s great Poorams. Read more → Iconic Panchari Melam Kerala’s most popular temple chenda melam — a six-beat panchari cycle circling the shrine with elephants and rising crescendo. Read more → Thayambaka Solo-centred chenda concert form with improvisation and supporting drums. Read more → Iconic Chenda Kerala’s iconic cylindrical drum — loud, rigid, and central to temple festivals, Kathakali, Theyyam, and chenda melam. Read more → Chenda Melam Collective temple drumming led by the chenda — Kerala’s great family of festival melams. Read more → Kombu Pattu Melodic and signalling patterns on the kombu curved horn. Read more → Kuzhal Pattu Temple and folk melodies on the kuzhal double-reed pipe. Read more → Nadaswaram Auspicious double-reed tradition widely heard in South Indian temple and wedding music. Read more → Pulluvan Pattu Ritual serpent songs of the Pulluvan community with distinctive string instruments. Read more → Mappila Pattu Malabar Muslim song tradition of devotion, romance, and community life. Read more → Vanchipattu Boat-song poetry and rhythm of Kerala’s backwater and festival culture. Read more → Christian Devotional Music Kerala Christian hymn and devotional song traditions for worship and feast days. Read more → Temple Percussion Ensembles Broader family of Kerala temple drum and metal percussion groups. Read more →

Iconic Tholpavakoothu Leather shadow puppet theatre of the Ramayana in Bhadrakali temples. Read more → Pavakathakali Glove-puppet storytelling in a miniature Kathakali style. Read more → Nokkukuthi Rare eye-puppet folk form using gaze and small figures. Read more →

Gaddika Ritual song-and-dance tradition of the Adiya community in Wayanad. Read more → Vattakali Circular tribal dance performed in group formations with song and rhythm. Read more → Mangalam Kali Festive tribal dance associated with auspicious occasions and community joy. Read more → Irula Dance Traditional dance of the Irula community of the Western Ghats region. Read more → Paniya Dance Dance tradition of the Paniya community, rooted in Wayanad and nearby hills. Read more → Kurumba Dance Dance heritage of the Kurumba communities of the Kerala hill tracts. Read more → Kattunayakan Dance Dance of the Kattunayakan forest community of Wayanad and Nilgiri fringes. Read more → Mavila Dance Dance tradition of the Mavilan community of northern Kerala. Read more →

Iconic Pulikali Onam tiger dance of Thrissur with painted bodies and drums. Read more → Kummattikali Onam-season masked folk dance of Thrissur with painted wooden masks. Read more → Onappottan Costumed Onam visitor who goes house to house with blessings. Read more → Iconic Thiruvathirakali Women’s circle dance for Thiruvathira and Onam, also known as Kaikottikali. Read more → Velakali Temple martial dance recalling Nair battle formations at festival processions. Read more → Iconic Poorakkali Devotional martial dance of northern Kerala performed in the Pooram season. Read more → Iconic Theyyam North Malabar’s living ritual of deity embodiment — Kaliyattam at kavus, with mudi, face art, and night-long blessing. Read more → Thirra Theyyam thira of Malabar — ritual dance at kavus where performers are possessed by clan deities such as Bhagavathi and Shiva. Read more →

Kerala Mural Painting Classical temple mural style of Kerala with mineral colours and epic themes. Read more → Kalamezhuthu Ritual floor drawing of deities with coloured powders in temple courtyards. Read more → Coconut Shell Craft Utility and decorative craft made from polished coconut shells. Read more → Coir Craft Rope, mats, and fibre products from coconut husk — a coastal Kerala hallmark. Read more → Bamboo Craft Basketry, furniture, and utility objects woven or built from bamboo. Read more → Bell Metal Craft Cast metal lamps, vessels, and ritual objects in traditional alloys. Read more → Wood Carving Relief and sculptural carving for temples, homes, and furniture. Read more → Nettur Petti Ornate brass-bound wooden jewellery box associated with Kerala bridal tradition. Read more → Aranmula Kannadi Handmade metal mirror of Aranmula, cast as a reflective alloy disc. Read more → Kathakali Mask Making Craft of sculpted headgear and facial pieces for Kathakali costume. Read more → Temple Wood Sculptures Figurative and decorative wooden sculpture for Kerala temple architecture. Read more → Traditional Boat Building (Uru) Hand-built wooden uru vessels of Beypore’s historic shipyards. Read more → Handloom Weaving Handwoven textiles from Kerala’s loom traditions and cooperative clusters. Read more → Kasavu Weaving Kerala’s signature off-white handloom with gold or coloured kasavu borders. Read more →

Iconic Chakyar Koothu Solo narrative theatre by the Chakyar community, blending myth, satire, and audience address. Read more → Nangyar Koothu Women’s narrative theatre from the Nangiar tradition, closely tied to Koodiyattam repertoire. Read more → Harikatha Devotional storytelling with song, explanation, and musical accompaniment. Read more → Villadichan Pattu Bow-song storytelling with rhythmic striking of the villu (bow). Read more → Katha Prasangam Literary storytelling performance with spoken prose, verse, and dramatic flair. Read more → Akhyana Narrative recitation tradition presenting epic and puranic stories. Read more →

Thirayattam Ritual folk dance of south Malabar with masked deities and temple percussion. Read more → Iconic Oppana Mappila wedding folk dance with song around the bride. Read more → Iconic Duff Muttu Mappila folk art with the duff frame drum and group song. Read more → Iconic Kolkali Malabar stick dance with circular formations and rhythmic strikes. Read more → Aravana Muttu Mappila percussion performance with aravana drums and chorus. Read more → Iconic Margam Kali Syrian Christian folk dance with circular movement and song. Read more → Iconic Chavittu Nadakam Latin Christian operatic folk theatre with stomping footwork. Read more → Kakkarissi Natakam Satirical folk play with Kakkarissi characters and comic social scenes. Read more → Ayyappan Koothu Devotional folk narrative linked to Ayyappa worship. Read more → Porattu Nadakam Comic folk theatre of central Kerala with street-play energy. Read more → Kummatti Masked Onam folk figure related to Kummattikali processions. Read more → Kanyarkali Palakkad folk dance-drama of farming communities. Read more → Kanniyar Kali Palakkad folk form closely related to Kanyarkali festival theatre. Read more → Chavittukali Folk dance with emphatic footwork for local festivals. Read more → Malayan Kettu Ritual folk performance of the Malayan community in north Kerala. Read more → Kaalavela Cattle festival folk tradition with decorated animals and processions. Read more → Poothan and Thira Paired ritual folk figures of south Malabar temple festivals. Read more → Pana Ritual folk singing linked to local deities and seasonal rites. Read more → Panan Kali Folk performance of the Panan community with song and story. Read more → Kothamoori Ritual hobby-horse folk dance of north Malabar. Read more → Kurathiyattam Folk dance portraying Kurathi characters with song and mime. Read more → Kakkarissi Kali Comic folk dance linked to the Kakkarissi theatre tradition. Read more → Onathallu Traditional Onam martial combat play of central Kerala. Read more → Vattappattu Circle song tradition with group singing and rhythm. Read more → Kambadikali Competitive stick folk game-dance of northern Kerala. Read more → Koorathiyattam Folk dance related to Kurathi character portrayals at festivals. Read more →