About Mohiniyattam

• Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form originating from the state of Kerala.
• It is traditionally a solo dance performed by women after extensive training.
• The dance gets its name from Mohini – the female enchantress avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.

• The roots of Mohiniyattam are in the Natya Shastra (the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text on performance arts)
• It follows the Lasya style described in Natya Shastra, ie, a dance which is delicate and feminine.
• It comprises delicate footsteps, undulating body movements, and subtle yet poignant facial expressions.
• Mohiniyattam emotes a play through dancing and singing, where the language of the song texts is Manipravala, a mixture of Malayalam and Sanskrit.
• The musical instruments usually used in Mohiniyattam are Mridangam or Madhalam (barrel drum), Idakka (hourglass drum), flute, Veena, and Kuzhitalam (cymbals).