Nayandi melam

A team of men folk performs this. Nayandi melam is a musical form consists of a reed pipe, thavil, pampai and urumi and percussion instruments. It’s performed in rural religious celebrations and rituals and celebrations. It provide ideal accompaniment to folk forms like Karagaatam, Kavadiattam, Kuravan Kurathi attam , Poi kaal kutharai attam etc.

Kaavadi attam

With the kaavadi- an artistic semi circular canopy resting on three-foot cylindrical base- on their shoulders, devotees of lord Murugan undertake ritual pilgrimages to the hills where his temples are. The performer twists and turns the kaavadi in animated equilibrium. This is accompanied with Nayandi meelam.

Kazhial aatam

Kazhi refers a stick. A dance accompanied with sticks is known as Kazhilattam. Kazhil attam is also known as Kazhal, Kalaladi.In Malayalam it is known as Kol kazhi, Koladi, Kambu Kazhi etc.Kazhial attam is performed at Tirunalveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin regions in Tamil Nadu.

Therukoothu

Theru koothu is the combination of literature, music and theatre. It is considered as the powerful theatre tradition of Tamil Nadu. This is performed in South Arcot, North Arcot, Chengalpattu, Thiruvanamalai and Vilupuram districts in Tamilnadu. Therukoothu is not only aesthetically sophisticated but also has a significant position in socio religious practices of the villages. Performance in the Theru koothu is considered as an act of devotion to the local village deity to which it is traditionally linked. There are two kinds of Therukoothu. They are Therkathi paani (Southern Method) Vadakathi paani (Northern Method). Therkathi paani is performd at Puducheri region and Vadakathi paani is performed at Chengalpattu and North Arocot region. Dolak, Jalra, Armoniam are the musical instruments that are used in Therukoothu. Generally therukoothu performers perform the myth of Ramayanam, Mahabaratham.

Poikal kuthirai attam

It is a folk art form of TamilNadu. This art form is known as poikal koothu or puraviyattam. This art flourished under the patronage of Thanjavor king and is said that this have been first performed by Maratta artistes. A dummy horse prepared out of cardboard and bamboo sticks and wooden sticks are used by artists to produce the sound effects of hooves. The horses are decorated in the Thanjavur style with mirrors and other embellishments.

Marakkalattam

Two wooden poles are tied with the bottom of the legs and danced is known as Marakalaatam. It is performed as an entertainment. The performers danced to the music Nayandi Melam. The length of the wooden pole is approximately 130 cm. These poles are very strong and it has a special structure by which the performer fixes these poles comfortably at his legs. Thomparayer community performs this dance and it is believed that this dance is danced by Thirumangai Aalwar Kannan.

Kummiattam

Kummiattam is a folk art form of Tamil Nadu. Kummy refers the dance while clapping hands to a rhythm, accompanied by songs in popular tunes. Generally women form a circle and dance during folk religious festivals and life cycle ceremonies especially during marriage and puberty rituals.