Thiruvathirakali is an interesting expression of the Kerala culture. The attractively dressed Kerala women gather around a brightly lit brass lamp and clap their hands in rhythm with the songs they sing while they display enchanting footwork. According to a popular Kerala legend a Thiruvathirakali dance performance brought the deity of love, Kamadeva back to life after Lord Shiva's ire reduced him to ashes. The women adorn themselves in the best of clothes and perform Thiruvathirakali dance around the lamp. The graceful dance takes place around a Nilavilakku or a lamp and the dance is a symbol of female energy. Greater emphasis is given to the rhythmic movements than mudra and thiruvathira songs are well reputed for their literary flourish. .Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a popular dance form for all seasons.