Irula Dance is the pride symbol of Community

Irula dance is a folk art form performed by the irula community of Attappadi area in Palakkad district. They are the prime habitat of Attappadi. This is an art form with an equal importance to dance and music. The artists are dancing with the rhythm of instruments made out of leather, bamboo wood etc. The important instrument in the background music is ‘kogal’(A type of kuzhal). The songs are derived from the old devotional themes. Each performance will last around one and half hour duration. The language of the songs is a mixture of Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. They dance to wake up the lord Malleeswara, who is the local deity of Attappadi tribals. Around 15 members will participate in the performance.

Irula dance is a traditional dance form of Irula community in Attappadi. Temple festivals, harvest season and birth and death ceremonies are the main occasions where the ‘Irula dance’ is performed. Members from the villages will get together at night with singing and dancing until morning.