A vibrant outburst of colour and energy, Padayani is a ritual art form performed at Bhadrakaali temples. Kottangal Padayani, held annually at the Kottangal Devi Temple begins with the ritual of chootu kathikal (burning of dried coconut leaves) on the Bharani asterism in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December) and ends with Valiya Padayani on Bharani asterism in the Malayalam month of Makaram (January).