Velichappaadu Thullal

This is a ritual dance common with bhadrakalipattu, ayyappanpattu and veitaykorumakanpattu. Since it deals with trances and evil spirits, only a few are allowed to perform it. Usually the members of the Kallathukuruppanmar enjoy this right. In the first stage of the dance there is kalamezhuthu, in which the form of the deity is drawn on the floor with the aid of five types of coloured powders. Then devotional songs are sung to the accompaniment of nanthuni, a musical instrument.

After this the dancer known as velichappadu enters, with red flowery clothes, red scarf's, a girdle of bells at the waist, and a sword in hand. Slowly he gets into a trance and executes vigorous movements which is technically called idum koorum chavittal. The vellichapaadus purpose is to tell the future while in a trance, they hold a sickle in their hand, representing Bhagavati, while shaking it high in the air.

The velichapadu dancer has been variously described as the "temple oracle" and "the divine dancer". His role here is choreographic. He is ceremoniously ushered into the house to the accompaniment of drums and pipes. There, he dances around and eventually into the powder spread of the tribal icon on the floor to finally erase most of it.