Kerala hindus of Arizona  is organizing a mega event of the dance form Thiruvathira during their Onam Celebration on September 03, 2016, which will be performed by around 50 plus ladies. Thiruvathira kali is a typical dance form of Kerala and a female group dance made up of simple yet very attractive steps.

ThiruvathiraKali is an important traditional dance of Kerala which is usually performed in the other popular festivals such as Onam and Vishu. Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January).

The dance is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy, for this is what brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva. The sinuous movements executed by a group of dancers around a nilavilakku, embody 'lasya' or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine.

The dancers move in a circular pattern, accompanied by rhythmic clapping of the hands, to the tune of the Thiruvathira pattu. One of the performers sings the first line of the Thiruvathira pattu (song) while the rest repeat it in chorus. The songs are often narrations from the folk epics.

In Kerala, the festival of Thiruvathira is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shiva. Thiruvathira is the nakshatra or "star" of Lord Shiva as per the Malayalam calendar . Another belief is that the festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of Love. It is believed that on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Shiva after her long penance and Lord Shiva took her as a saha-dharma chaarini (equal partner). Both Parvathi and Shiva present this ideal to devotees in the form of Ardha-Nareeshawara (half male, half female form).

Thiruvathirakali is a dance form performed by women on the day of Thiruvathira to the accompaniment of Thiruvathira paattu, folk songs telling tales of lovesick Parvati, her longing and penance for Lord Shiva's affection and Shiva's might and power.

The folk lore has it that Thiruvathira Kali is in memory of Lord Siva taking Parvathi as his wife. A group of women dressed in typical Kerala style with mundu and neriyathu and the hair bun adorned with jasmine garlands, perform this dance during festival seasons.. Thiruvathirakali or Kaikottikkali spreads the message of joy and illustrates the emotions of a married woman towards her beloved and of the unmarried woman longing for one.

By Premji