Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam, the female classical solo dance of Kerala, is the dance of the Mohini, the celestial enchantress of Hindu mythology. The dance is based on ‘Hastha Lakhsana Deepika’, the treatise on hand gestures, and its lyrics are in Manipravala, which is a mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam languages.

Mohiniyattam usually deals with the themes of love and devotion. The slow, swaying movements of Mohiniyattam along with subtle facial expressions give it an identity different from that of the other classical dance forms of India. The predominant emotive element of this dance is laasya or sensuality. Shown in the video is a performance by Dr. Neena Prasad, a popular Mohiniyattam artiste.