In India Kerala is famous for its Tribal folk dances. There are more than fifty well-known popular folk dances in the state which are mostly performed for religious influences, during harvesting, sowing of seeds, festivals etc. Tribal dances are often accompanied by songs & instruments.

There are about 35 different tribal groups. Chief among them are the Kurichiyar Nayadi, Mullakurumbar, Uralikurumber, Paniya, Mudaga, Irula, Ernadar, Kadar, Muthuvan, Kanikkar, Uralees, Paliyan, Malavedan, Vettuvar, Eravallan, Veda and Malayan. Each of these aboriginal tribes has its own distinct dance traditions.

The above dance belongs to the Paliyan people, a local community in Thekkady. This dance is usually performed during the first harvest of the season. The ceremonial dress for this dance includes either a cap created from the palm leaf sieve used to separate the wheat from the chaff, or more extravagantly, a crown of long crop leaves with a torch in the center.

This post was originally published on March 24, 2012.