This spectacular martial dance is performed by men in some of the
temples of southern Kerala. The dancers, clad in the traditional clothes
and colourful headgear of the medieval Nair soldiers, engage in vigorous
movements and dexterous sword play, to the accompaniment of an orchestra
comprising the maddalam, ilathalam, kombu and kuzhal. Velakali originated
in Ambalappuzha where Mathoor Panicker, chief of the Chempakasserri
army, promoted it to boost the martial spirit of the people. The dance
form is a regular feature of the annual festivities at the Ambalappuzha
Sree Krishna temple in Alappuzha district.
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