Mahankali dance is performed as a sign of devotion and worship of
Mother Goddess. It is one of those exclusive dance forms, dedicated to
Goddess Kali or Durga and is usually performed during Dussehra and
other local festivals celebrated in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh.
Both men and women take part in this dance after applying turmeric on their hands and feet, with Kumkum on their foreheads. They dress traditionally, usually in yellow or red colored clothes and carry earthen pots on their head, which is in turn decorated with neem leaves. They hold together a bunch of neem leaves in their hands and shake vigorously during this dance. Sometimes, they also move into trance, where they act as embodiment of the Goddess for some time, before they are offered gifts and divine offerings by those around them to calm them down.