Dear P.S Friends can u able to send information on Art & crafts and folk dances of your native village. let us try to restore the dying Art of our own
FOLK DANCES OF TAMIL NADU
Folk dances of particular region in India have both regional autonomy and features that are common to other parts of India �� while the ecology, environment and agricultural functions give distinctiveness; legend, myth and literature unite them to other parts. The dances have survived through many centuries of Indian History and have provided continuity to the Indian tradition that is not stagnant, as it is constantly adapting itself to new conditions and assimilating influences. Pliability and flexibility is of the essence: scope for self-expression, improvisation is the secret of their survival.
Tamil Nadu developed the art of entertainment to its pristine heights at early age. Nadakam (Drama) has roots in the rural folk theatre like Therukoothu. Majority of these dances are still thriving in Tamil Nadu today. The more celebrated forms of village folk dances are:
Karagaattam
Karagam is a folk dance with musical accompaniment, performed balancing a pot on the head. Traditionally, the villagers in praise of the rain goddess Mari Amman and River Goddess, Gangai Amman, performed this dance with literature with water pots balanced on their heads. In Sangam literature, it is mentioned as 'Kudakoothu'. This dance has two divisions - one, Aatta Karagam and the other 'Sakthi Karagam'. More often it is danced with decorated pots on the head and is known as 'Aatta Karagam' and symbolizes joy and merriment. The former is performed only in temples, while the latter is mainly for entertainment. This is one of the more popular rural dances of today. Earlier it was performed only with the Neiyandi Melam but now it also includes songs. Karagams were once performed for mulaipari ceremony when the dancer carried a pot of sprouted grains on his/her head and danced, balancing it through intricate steps and body/arm movements. Today, the pots have transformed from mud pots to bronzeware and even stainless steel in modern times. The pots are decorated with a cone of flower arrangements, topped by a paper parrot. The parrot rotates as the dancer swings along. This dance is very popular all over Tamil Nadu, though its birthplace is said to be Thanjavur. Most artistes hail from Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Pattukottai and Salem. This dance most is often a solo or a duet. Both male and female performers participate in this. Acrobatics similar to circus are included �� such as dancing on a rolling block of wood, up and down a ladder, threading a needle while bending backwards and so on.
Kummi
Kummi is one of the most important and ancient forms of village dances of Tamil Nadu. It originated when there were no musical instruments, with the participants clapping their hands to keep time. Women perform this; many varieties of Kummi, such as, Poonthatti Kummi, Deepa Kummi, Kulavai Kummi, Kadir Kummi, Mulaipari Kummi, etc. are known. The women stand in a circle and dance clapping their hands rhythmically to songs with catching tunes. This dance is usually performed during temple festivals, Pongal �� the harvest festival, family functions like the one to celebrate the coming of age of the girl-child, etc. The first line of the song is sung by the leading lady, which the others repeat.
Mayil Attam
This is done by girls dressed as peacocks, resplendent with peacock feathers and a glittering head-dress complete with a beak. This beak can be opened and closed with the help of a thread tied to it, and manipulated from within dress. Other similar dances are, Kaalai Attam (dressed as a bull), Karadi Attam (dressed as a bear) and Aali Aattam (dressed as a demon) that are performed in the villages during village get-togethers. Vedala Aattam is performed wearing a mask depicting demons. Kolaattam Kolaattam is an ancient village art. This is mentioned in Kanchipuram as 'Cheivaikiyar Kolattam', which proves its antiquity. Women only perform this, with two sticks held in each hand, beaten to make a rhythmic noise. Pinnal Kolaattam is danced with ropes that the women hold in their hands, the other of which are tied to a tall pole. With planned steps, the women skip over each other, which forms intricate lace-like patterns in the ropes. As colored ropes are used, this lace looks extremely attractive. Again, they unravel this lace reversing the dance steps. This is performed for ten days, starting with the Amavasi or Newmoon night after Deepavali.
Oyil Kummi
This is an ancient folk dance form popular in Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore and Periyar Districts. No other musical instruments are used in this dance except the ankle-bells. Men only perform this dance, during temple festivals. Stories and episodes centering on Murugan and Valli are depicted in the songs. As one of the rare folk art forms of ancient Tamil nadu, the Telugu speaking people of the northern districts are practising this now.
Kavadi Aattam
The ancient Tamils when they went on pilgrimage carried the offerings to the gods�� tied on the either end of the long stick, which was balanced on the shoulders. In order to lessen the boredom of the long travel they used to sing and dance about the gods. Kavadi Aattam has its origin in this practice. Special songs were created to be sung while carrying the Kavadi Sindhu. Only men perform this dance. It is done by balancing a pole with pots fixed on either end, filled with milk or coconut water. The poles are made from Purasai or Teak wood. On top, bamboo strips are bent like a half-moon, covered with saffron cloth and further decorated on the sides with peacock feathers. This is mainly a religious dance, performed in worship of Lord Murugan, the second son of Siva. Pambai and Naiyandi Melam accompany the dance.
Poikkal Kudirai Aattam
This is the Dummy Horse Dance where the dancer bears the dummy figure of a horse's body on his/her hips. This is made of light-weighted materials and the cloth at the sides swings to and fro covering the legs of the dancer. The dancer dons wooden legs that sound like the hooves of the horse. The dancer brandishes either a sword or a whip. This folk dance needs much training and skill. This dance is accompanied by Neiyandi Melam or Band music. This is connected to the worship of Ayyanar, prevails mainly around Thanjavur.
Kai Silambu Attam
This dance is performed in temples during Amman festivals or Navaratri festival. The dancers wear ankle