Kummatikali is a folk dance celebrating the arrival of the legendary King Mahabali to visit his subjects during the festival of Onam. It is believed that the presiding deity of Vadakukumnathan Temple in Thrissur asked the attending spirits to perform for him. The dance they presented came to be known as Kummatikali.

The group of dancers wear decorated masks carved from wood and a full-body covering of grass skirt-like garments known as kummatipullu. The musical instruments which accompany the dance are a string bow called onavillu, chenda and thappu drums, and a clarinet type instrument called nadaswaram.