Bhadrakalikkalam is the most frequently drawn Kalam in South Kerala. These kalams are drawn to worship Bhadrakali, the goddess giving prosperity and richness. In accordance with the description in the Puranas, Bhadrakali has a ferocious appearance in kalams portraying her.
Panchavarnapodi is the powder used to draw kalams. The size of the kalam increases as the number of hands of the goddess in the picture increases. The goddess may have 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 hands.
Rakteshwari, Bhuvaneshwari Kannaki, Vellambhagavathy, Kalaratri and Durga are major types of kalams drawn in the name of Bhadrakali.
