Padayani is a ritualistic dance popular in and around the district of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India.

Performed in temples dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, the Padayani is a week-long event. The performers wear colourful masks and spectacular headgears, called Kolams. The dance is performed in the evenings at the temple premises.

Valiya Padayani on the seventh day marks the grand finale of the event. A ceremonial procession carrying motifs is held on this day. Music and drum ensembles add to the charm of the procession.

Thappu, a one-sided drum is the major accompaniment. It is a round frame carved out of jack wood and covered with buffalo hide. Chenda, Para, Kumbham, Kaimani, Thamil and Kurumkuzhal are also used on specific occasions.

Padayani is performed in the months of Kumbham, Meenam and Medam (February, March and April), according to the Malayalam calendar.

The Kadammanitta Devi temple, Kadalimangalam Devi temple, Othara Puthukulangara Devi temple, Neelamperoor Palli Bhagavathy temple and Kurampala Puthenkavil Devi temple are some temples famous for Padayani performances. Besides the district of Pathanamthitta this art form is performed in several other temples in the districts of Kottayam, Alappuzha and Kollam.

Kolams
Bhairavi Kolam, the Kolam of Goddess Bhadrakali is the main one. Others include Kalari, Pakshi, Yakshi, Kuthira, Maadan, Gandharvan, Marutha and Apasmaram. These Kolams are made of tender areca nut palm spathes and frilled with tender coconut leaves. Natural colours like soot for black, turmeric for yellow, grinded red stones for red are used. It requires great skill and patience for an artiste who makes the Kolam. The Kolam is for one-time use only.

Theme
The theme of this ritualistic dance is associated with Goddess Bhadrakali in Hindu mythology. To kill a demon named Darika Goddess Bhadrakali took a fiercest form. But even after the slaying, the Goddess couldn’t be pacified and she went on in a procession along with her retinue. Her red eyes were full of angry and fire was emitted from her mouth, according to mythology.

To save the world from an imminent danger Lord Subramanya suggested Lord Siva to show the Goddess a picture of her horrendous form. Accordingly gods portrayed the fierce caricature of Bhadrakali and her retinue on their body and started to dance before her. Seeing this, the Goddess burst into laughter, and everything ended happily. Padayani is performed a commemoration of this story.