Poorakkali is a ritual art form performed by men in Bhagavathy temples as an offering during the Pooram festival. The festival usually falls in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April). The art form has 18 different forms and the songs for these performances are taken mostly from the stories from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The performers sing and dance around a traditional lamp placed at the centre. The group has a leader named 'Panicker' who sings the song which is repeated in chorus by the other dancers. The ritual has no other singers or orchestra accompanying the performance. It requires experienced dancers with great stamina who are also well trained in the techniques and feats of Kalaripayattu.