Chozhikkali is a popular dance form of
Thrissur District. Children don the costume of Chozhi. The elders don the costumes of Kalan, Chitragupta and Muthiyamma. The performance is based on a folk lore. Kalan (Yama) is the god of death and Chitragupta is the scribe of Kalan who records wises and virtues of men. Chozhi are the children of Muthiyamma and Kalan is coming to take them away. This forms the basic theme of the dance.
Muthiyamma stands in the midst of children and begins to sing humorous songs. The children clap their palms. Later, Kalan and Chitragupta enter with the accompaniment of yells. After commencing the performance, in a vacant place, the performers go from house to house and perform the dance. The costume of Chozhi consists of dried plantain leaves, tied all over the body, along with two horns sticking out from the forehead. Kalan and Chitragupta wear black clothes and masks of terrifying aspects with fangs.
