This was music played at a huge festival for the mighty god Subrahmania, son of Lord Shiva. The musicians consisted of many man, all devotees of Subrahmania, playing different kinds of drums, horns and cymbals. The musicians passionately played non-stop for the entire night. To see more pictures and video of the festival click here.

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This was a magical song was sung for the serpent deities by the Pulluvan community during a ritual known as Sarpam Thullal. This song, accompanied by the veena, kudum, and the cymbals, is what brings down the gods and induces the trance and possession by the ritual participants. Click here to see the ceremony.

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Songs about the life of the great god Ayyappa. Ayyappa Pattu is sung by devotees who have undertaken vows and is accompanied only by drums. It is performed during different rituals such as Ayyappa Villak and Ayyappa Theeyat. Click here to learn about Ayyappa and these rituals.

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The Poduval community is traditionaly a caste of drummers, playing a special drum known as the edaekkal drum. They performed on a stage during a festival at the Mannarsala Serpent Temple. Their drumming is repetitive and unbelievably fast. Click here to watch them play.

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This is a haunting song about the life and legends of the god Muttupan. The singer is accompanied by a chenda drum and was performed during a Theyyam ceremony in Kannur for Muttupan. See more about Muttupan Theyyam here.

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This is a traditional song of the Irula tribe, accompanied by a horn and a couple drums and cymbals. Along with the music the children and teenagers of the tribe danced. Watch the dance here.

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Panchavadyum literally means an ensemble of "five insturnments", an orchestra consisting of three different drums, cymbals, and long horn known as koil. Panchavadyum is usually only performed during ritual ceremonies and festivals. This performance was at a festival ceremony at a temple in Pazyhanoor involving about 20 musicians. Go to the temple by clicking here.

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This was a group from Andhra Pradesh who performed at a all India folk artist festival in Wyanad. The drummers played for a performance which included some men dressed up as tigers, a bear, and some other animals, apparently enacting a folk story. Go to the folk art festival in Wyanad,

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This was some drumming by some children of the Paniyan tribe at Kanavu school. They played the traditional and unique drum known as thudi. We didn't have a picture, so we put this drawing of the drum, or at least looks like one. It is played with a stick. Learn more about Kanavu here.

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