Varkala

Mayilattam

One of the traditional dances of south India, Mayilattam is performed only by female dancers by and large in the Hindu temples in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in veneration to Lord Subrahmanya. The name literally means the dance of peacock (mayil means peacock and attam dance).

The performers are dressed up as Lord Subrahmanya traveling on a Peacock. Peacock feathers are used to deck the dress. The shimmering head dress has a peacock beak in it which is movable as it is tied with a thread. The performance requires great skill and practice. Closely resembling Mayilattam are art forms like Karadi Attam, where the dancer is dressed as a bear, Aali Aattam in which the dancer is dressed as a demon and Kaalai Attam in which the dancer is dressed as a bull. The art form is performed during the arattu festival in Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna Temple, Varkala.

Ammankudam