This exquisitely made wooden model of a temple dance pavilion is in Napier Museum. Its Malayalam name is Koothambalam, or കൂത്തമ്പലം

Details of the temple dance pavilion model on display in Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram. In Malayalam, the name for the dance pavilion is Koothambalam, or കൂത്തമ്പലം.

These small bronze figures of Devi and Surya were on display in Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram. The labels in Malayalam were Devi = ദേവി and Surya = സുര്യ൯

A bronze female figure holds a lamp. Napier Museum, Thiruvananthapuram. The label says Bomma Vilakku, ബൊമ്മ വിളക്കു്

A jaw harp, or morsing, on exhibit in the Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram. I heard this instrument in a Malayalam rock song, and I understand that Carnatic music also uses the morsing. The label said മോർശംഖു്, which might be a phonetic rendering of മുഖർശംഖ്.

Men choose to be suspended from hooks that pierce their skin and hang from this vehicle’s crossbar during a religious festival. One person explained that parents elect to do this to secure a good future for their children. The vehicle is called Thookavillu, or തുക്കവില്ല്