Velakali, a traditional ritual art form of Kerala, was performed at the eastern entrance of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple on Monday as part of the 10-day Painguni Festival.
Organised by Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Samskarika Samithy, the ritual was staged after the present head of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, lighted the traditional lamp at 5 p.m.
As many as 101 performers, led by Ambalapuzha Rajiv Panicker, dressed in the gear of soldiers and with colourful headgear and shining swords performed graceful steps of the ritual dance to the rhythm of percussion instruments like Kombu, Kuzhal, Maddalam and Ilathalam. The ritual was performed under the huge figures of Pandavas that have been put up at the eastern entrance of the temple. The performers represent the Kauravas and the Velakali is believed to be symbolic of the battle that was fought between the cousins.
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The performance stops and beats a retreat once it reaches the effigy of Yudhishtra. Velakali was revived at the temple in 2011 after a gap of almost four decades and is performed on the 8th day of the festival. Minister for Health and Devaswom V.S. Sivakumar, Mayor V.K. Prasanth, Cricketer and BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram Central Assembly constituency S. Sreeshanth were among those present to witness the Velakali.