This is a martial dance form practiced by the Christians of Kottayam District. References are seen in ramban songs about this art form. Margam kali is performed at the festival occasions of Church and marriages of Suriyani Christians.

Twelve men stand around a lighted nilavilakku and dance with song. Song and chuvadu (steps) have equal importance. They dance fourteen padangal with different songs. White dhoti, banian and talekkettu (turban) are used as costumes. Lighting of nilavilakku and rangavandanam are the preliminary rituals. Titthaka thintha, mukkanni, kaccappatta and irattappadam are the important chuvadukal.

TMargamkali originated from the word margam or vazhi (way). St. Thomas, the disciple of Christ reached India to spread his messages. His travel, wonderful deeds and death are depicted in the fourteen padams. Certain historical facts related to the old testament and old churches are seen in the songs of margamkali.

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.

Duffmuttu is also known as AraIn Kotamuri, 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.

They crack jokes on social themes of immediate relevance. The party visits houses in the village and collects grain and other presents in the name of the cow of prosperity. The following lines from a song on the cow speaks eloquently and succinctly on its beautiful nature.

"Whenever Kotamuri treads her way,

Grain and money hold their sway".

The song deals with how the goddess of prosperity, 'Annapurna' came to Kerala from the land of Aryans. She sets out on a journey in a ship with her retinue and reaches 'Cherukunnu' where she is idolised and consecrated. There are references in the song about different varieties of rich seeds imported to Kerala.

Sarpam Thullal, a votive offering for family wealth and happiness, is performed in the courtyard of houses having snake shrines called Kavu. It is performed by the members of Pulluvar community. At first the Pulluvan draws a kolam (picture) of two or more twining snakes in the courtyard, and an oil-lit traditional lamp and one full measure (nirapara) are then put in front of the kolam. Accompanied by a procession called thalappoli, the idol of the snake is brought out from the Kavu and placed in the kolam. A number of girls with their hair dressed up like the hoods of snakes took part in this procession. The poojari performs ritual offerings while the girls sit in two rows on the side of the kolam. The poojari then dances round the kolam to the rhythmic beating of para and ilathalam. All the while a pulluvan and pulluvathi will be singing special devotional songs set to tune and rhythm by nanduni (a primitive type of veena) and kudam (a primitive form of modern khatam) respectively. As the song gathers momentum the girls go into a trance and began to dance, swaying their body slowly at first and steadily ascending in tempo. The dance finally erupts in a violent frenzy of rhythmic fervor.

Patayani, a popular folk dance (anushtana kala)a ritual art of Kerala. "Kadammanitta Padayani" is being performed along with the 10 days long Pathamudaya Maholsavam at Kadammanitta Devi Temple during March - April ( from 1-10 of medam month in Malayalam Calendar) of every year. Medam 8th is popular for Grand padayani (Vellya Padeni)when all "kolams" under padayani will be performed by experts, and large number of people interested, from all over the country as well as a few foreigners who are regular visitors every year will come to see the magnificent performances, apart from many prominent cultural and social leaders.

Padayani is being performed as an offering to Goddess Kali (Devi) and often portrays the story of Goddess winning victory over Daarikan, an evil character. This ritual festival is famous in Kadammanitta village in Pathanamthitta district. The youngsters of Kadammanitta under the leadership of Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai had formed "Kadammanitta Gothra Kala Kalari" through which this form of art has been taught to many and is being passed over to the generations.

Panchavadyam, an orchestra composed of Timila, Maddalam, Edakka, Cymbols and Kompu was introduced in Kalamandalam as a course of study only recently. It is an ensemble performed mostly during temple-festivals. Panchavadyam provides sufficient scope for collective and individual performance. Starting from a slow tempo it steadily progresses and reaches the crescendo. It is a tower of rhythm created in front of caparisoned elephants lining up in the temple-yard during the festival. The music of Panchavadyam is engrossing especially in the lush green background of the pastoral-temples.

This is performed during onam and navaratri season. the dancers realistically dress up as tigers go about from house to house dancing vigorously to the beating of native percussion instruments (udukku, Thakil and chenda).Pulikali, also known as Kaduvaakali, is a 200 year old art, carefully preserved by the artists of the state. Literal meaning of Pulikali is the 'play of the tigers' hence the performance revolve around the theme of tiger hunting. The folk art is mainly practiced in Thrissur (Trichur) and Palghat districts of Kerala. Best place to watch the show is Swaraj Ground at Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam, where Pulikali troupes from all over the district assemble to display their skills.

Also known as pavakoothu, this form could be witnessed in palakkad and ponnani taluks. this is handled traditionally by pulavanmars (community) . Pavakal (puppets) are made of deer skins to represent the characters in Ramayana epic. These puppets are arranged behind a curtain and behind the puppets brightly burning oil wick lamp produces shadows which perform the acts of epical drama Ramayana.