Poorakkali is the own folk art of North Malabar.   Payyanur and nearby places like  Vengara, Ramanthali, Karivellur, Trikaripur are very famous for this art form.  The names of Mambalam Raman Panikkar, Vengara Krishna Panikkar and Ramanthali Krishnan Panikkar are some of the names always remembered in Poorakkali. 'Poorakali' is a traditional art form performed by a group of people chanting the holy verses from 'Ramayana' or 'Bagavata'. During the 'Pooram' season boys and men used to perform this art in all evening. Poorakkali was a ritual dance performed by men during the nine day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples. The festival, to propitiate Kamadeva ( the god of love), begins with the Karthika asterism and concludes on the pooram asterism of the Malayalam month of Meenam (Pisces). Performed by a group of young men in loin clothes, this pirouette around a huge multi-decked 'nilavilakku' involves a lot of martial skills and masculine movements. Maruthukali, a  sort of competition, also forms a part of Poorakkali. This includes scholarly debates on grammar, literature and mythology. Maruthukali is lead by two Panikkars (eminent Poorakkali artistes) who are well versed in mythology, grammar and music. Payyanur and nearby villages like Karivellur, Ramanthali, Trikaripur has donated various  Masters  for this traditional art form.

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