Nagachuttu, a combination of snake worship and
Kalaripayattu, is a ritualistic dance mainly performed by vedars, parayars and kuravar tribes. It is popular in
Thiruvananthapuram and
Chirayinkeezhu taluks, and
Kilimanoor, Pazhayakunnummal and Thattathumala regions. Ten persons are needed for staging this dance - eight persons for the dance and two to play percussion instruments. From among the eight performers, two each twin and twine around each other like serpents and rise up to battle it out with sticks. The dancers smear sandalwood paste on their forehead. A red towel around the head, red silk around the waist and bells round the ankles form part of the costume.
