Pongal is one of the most important festivals
in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the
only Hindu
festival that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on a
fixed date i.e. the fourteenth of January every year. It is a harvest festival
and celebrated in North India as Makar
Sankranti. It also has an astronomical significance as it marks the
beginning of Uttarayana i.e. the movement of sun in the northern hemisphere.
This festival is celebrated for four days in all the Tamil families around the
globe. Apart from feasting, people sing and dance on this occasion to express
their elation and a beginning of the phase of prosperity and riches. Several
kinds of popular Tamil folk dances are performed on this occasion in the
temples or at community gatherings. Here in this article, we have discussed few
of the dance forms performed on auspicious occasions like Pongal. Read
more to know in detail.
Karagaattam
Karagam is a folk dance of Tamil
Nadu. It is basically a rural dance which is done along with music either
individually or in a pair of two. It is basically a performance of balancing a
pot on the head. It is of two types- Aatta Karagam and the other ‘Sakthi
Karagam’.
kummi
Kummi is one of the most popular
dances that are performed on the occasion of Pongal. It is also one of the most
ancient dances of Tamil Nadu and it is said that it evolved as a dance form
even before music. It is a group dance in which women stand in a circle and
dance clapping their hands rhythmically to lifting songs.
Mayil
Attam
This is also one interesting kind of
dance performed by the girls of the state on auspicious occasions. In this
dance, the dancer is supposedly dressed as a peacock, with peacock feathers and
a sparkling head-dress complete with a beak.
Oyil
Kummi
Oyil Kummi is an ancient folk dance
form of the state. It is very popular in Trichi, Salem, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore
and Periyar districts. This dance is performed exclusively by men without any
musical instruments except the ankle-bells. This is popularly performed during
all the temple festivals.
Kali
Attam
Kali Attam is a folk dance of Tamil
Nadu that is performed by both men and women during auspicious days, weddings
and joyous festivals like Pongal. Kali literally means joy or fun and games and
the dance of Kali Attam is very much a reflection of its name. It is performed
along with a stick and is very much an exhibition of quickness and alertness.
Puli
Attam
Puli Attam is another Tamilk folk
dance that is performed on temple festivals and auspicious occasions like
Pongal. This is an entertaining dance form with the main dancer dressed like a
lion.
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