Kolkkali is a highly rhythmic dance with the dancers wielding short sticks.

Kolkkali

Kolkkali is a highly rhythmic dance with the dancers wielding short sticks. The rhythm of this dance is set by a harmonious synchronisation of the tapping of the feet to the striking of sticks. The movement is circular and the artists sing as they dance and strike the sticks in unison. The circle expands and contracts as the dance progress. The accompanying music gradually rises in pitch and the dance reaches its climax. Though the dancers break away to form different patterns, they never miss a beat. In Malabar, Kolkkali is more popular among Muslim men.

KOLKKALI : A mixed dance in which both men and women participate.. .Sometimes it is performed on a specially constructed wooden stage .Thus the name thattinmelkali.Kolkali is performed mainly by the agrarian classes. Musical instruments used are Chanda, Elathalam, Mathalam and Changila. Usually it is presented once in a year after paddy harvest during the Month of April. Farmers and all villagers celebrate the festival together without any caste and creed but Kolkkali is more popular among Muslim men.