Karivela (or Kari Vela) is a ritual usually seen in the Palakkad District of Kerala, India,[1] in which many volunteers paint themselves black with charcoal (Kari in Malayalam language) and walk through the streets.
Karivela is conducted as part of festivals such as Nemmara Vela and Kuthira Vela, with the volunteers acting as guards to control festival spectators.[2]