This ritual offering to Goddess Kaali is performed in many places of South Malabar.
A troupe of dancers dress up as Kaali (the Thira) and the accompanying spirits
(the Poothams) who were created along with the goddess for the destruction of
the evil demon, Daarikan.
The Thira wear masks while the spirits don semi-circular wooden crowns.
The dance is performed from house to house and on the premises of village shrines
between November and May every year.