Kavadiyattam is a ritualistic dance form performed by devotees. The group of
devotees wearing bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over
the body dance in a frenzy carrying kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are
colorful bow shaped wooden structures rising six to ten feet tall. The ambalakavadi
is structured and decorated like a temple. The pookavadi has clusters of colorful,
paper, cloth or plastic flowers arranged on them. The resounding beats of percussion
instruments like udukku and chenda and the nadaswaram are characteristic of
the kavadi procession. It is usually offered in Subramanya temples.
