Koothu is an art form in which the stories of Hindu mythology and epics are orally rendered primarily with the support of acting and hand gestures. In the olden days, it was confined to temple premises.  Only the members of the Chakyar community performed this art form and hence the name Chakyar Koothu. This was performed in temple theatres called Koothambalam.

In Chakyar Koothu the entire story is presented by a single performer. The costumes are that of a court jester. Facial make-up is done with rice powder, turmeric powder and black powder. He wears an ornament in one ear and a betel leaf in the other. An accompanying artist plays the percussion instrument Mizhavu in the background.

The highlights of Chakyar Koothu, is satire, social criticism, humor and related stories or episodes presented during the performance.  In the olden days of royalty, the Chakyar had the right to criticise even the King and his acts while performing.  The practice was that the audience should listen to the Chakyar and accept his criticisms.  Any opposition to comments made by the Chakyar while performing would have led to an end in the performance of the art form in that premises for ever.

This is a traditional as well as ritual based art form performed by Malayalee girls, especially Keralite women. Thiruvathirakali is a unique dance performed in Kerala on the auspicious day of Thiruvathira, the birthday of Lord Shiva. And this art form is not related to Sivarathri. It is performed by women who seek blessings for eternal marital bliss. It falls in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). As per Hindu mythology, this dance is what brought Kamadeva (God of Love) back to life when he had been burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva’s fury.

Groups of up to eight or ten women are seen dressed in traditional Kerala attire, dancing in a circle. Another dance form related to Thiruvathira is Kai Kottikali or Kummiyadi. This is clapping form of Thiruvathira.

The graceful movements of the dance are both enchanting and elegant. The white saris called ‘setsari’ with colourful borders along with fresh jasmines adorning their hair make for a wonderful sight.

The songs for the dances are also related to Siva Puranam. In ancient days women performing in the houses to take fasting and they did not sleep. Especially the women gathered in the neighboring houses of newly married couples and perform the Thiruvathira. These rituals are no longer observed in Kerala. Now a day Thiruvathira is practicing by school students for compete in Youth Festivels, as a competitive item in the festival.

Thottam Pattu is a vocal ballad sung ritual relating to Temples in Kerala. Thottam Pattu is invocative. This is a mythological belief that by performing this ritual, the performer will be possessed by divine spirits. Thottam Pattu, the ritualistic songs which accompany the performance elaborate the legends related to the deities.

Thottampattu is a ritual conducted in Bhadrakali temples in south Kerala (Travancore region). After the second harvest, the spirit of Bhadrakali placed in the outside of the temple called pattambalam.

This is the song from the evening of Meenam month. The song is played on a specially made room with green palm. The floor of the pandal cleaned with cow dung. There is a ritual called ‘Kappukettukal’. It will only release after the end of Tottam Pattu.

In all the Bhadrakali temples, the song is performed in temples that are worshiped by devotees, the hair (mudi) of Goddess Bhadrakali. Hair is a tawdrily and plaque that looks like big crowns on their head. It is said that it has been engraved with many snakes as the hair of the Bhadrakali. In temples it is located away from the shrine and left in another room (Mudipura).

The song is composed by two half. In the first half of this period, Kali is celebrated as the daughter of Lord Shiva and the assassin of Asuran. But the second half is based on the spectrum of kannaki (Chilappathikaram).

This the ritualistic art form maily performs in Kali temple in Kerala. The people who dressed like the bird Garuda (vehicle of Lord Mahavishnu) perform the art form.

The dancer hooked in the skin in a huge vehicle after the dance performed. These arts form can be seen in Devi temple during the festival of Meena bharani and Pathamudayam. The Garudan Thookam is mainly the art form of Kottayam. But now a day it was widened to several districts of Kerala. The Garuda dressed up similar to the Kathakali. But the beak and wings will be attached to the dancer who performs Garuda.

Legend has it that even after slaying Darika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty. At this time Vishnu sent Garuda to Kali to quench the thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali and only after getting some drops of blood from Garuda, Kali was pacified. The ritual is performed based on this belief.

The believers dedicates the Thookam as a reward  for the problems solved in the abode of Goddess Kali.