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About Spritual Tamilnadu

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History

Tamil Nadu is one of the most ancient regions in Indian history which dates back some 6000 years. The state represents the nuceus of Dravidian culture in India, which antedated the Aryan culture in India by almost a thousand years. Tamil Nadu was variously ruled by the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas prior the Christian era. Karikalan Chola, the greatest of the earlier Chola.

With the establishment of East India Company at Madras in 1639, a new chapter was opened in the Tamil Nadu. Slowly and steadily the state came under British sway.

When India became independent, the old Madras Province comprising Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and part of Kerala continued as the state of Madras. After some years of agitation for separate, Andhra Pradesh was created. On 14th January 1969, Madras state changed its name to Tamil Nadu. The capital city Madras was renamed Chennai in 1996.

At a Glance:-
 

Area 1,30,058 Sq. km

Capital Chennai

Boundaries East-Bay of Bengal, 

West-Kerala,

North-Andhra Pradesh,

South-Gulf of Mannar,

North-West-Karnataka.

Language Tamil, English

Literacy  Rate 64%
Best Time To Go January to September.
Airport Tiruchirapally, Coimbattore, Salem, Chennai ( International Airport in the southern region is the main centre of airline routes).
Roads The length of road network in Tamil Nadu is nearly 1,70,000 km.
Important Hill Resorts Name Altitude Nearest Railhead
Coonoor 1858 m. Coonoor
Kodaikanal 2133 m. Kodaikanal Road 80 km.
Kotagiri 1983 m. Coonoor 21 km.
Ooty 2286 m.  Udhagamandalam.
Yercud 1515 m. Salem 35 km.

Festivals Of Tamil Nadu

Pongal

The four-day Harvest festival is celebrated all over the state in January. The festival begins on the last day of the Tamil month with Bhogi Pongal followed by Surya Pongal on the next day. It is on this day that Chakkara Pongal, a delicacy of harvest rice cooked with jaggery, ghee and cashew nuts is offered to the Sun God. The third day, Mattu Pongal is dedicated to the Cattle when cows are bathed and adomed with colourful beads and flowers. Jallikattu, the bullfight is held on the last day known as Kannum Pongal.

Skanda Sashti

Skanda Sashti is celebrated in Saivite temples all over Tamilnadu on the  sixth day in the holy half of the month of Aippasi (Oct 15 - Nov 15). Legend is that  Skanda Sashti is celebrated on  the destruction of evil by the Lord Kartikeya, son of Shiva. When it comes to celebration there  must be mention of the grand celebrations at Tirupparankunram, Tiruchendur, two of the 6 'Padai Veedu' temples of Murugan. At Sikkal, the festival image of Subramanya receives a spear, from the Ambal shrine, and breaks out in sweat, a day before the climax of the festival.

Bhramotsavam

In most of the  South Indian temples Bhramotsavam is celebrated. This is a ten day long festival with the procession of festival images on gaily decorated mounts. Srinivasa Bhattar and Koti Sreekrishna of Cincinnati, present the significance of Bhramotsavam in SriVaishnava temples, and describe the daily events in the 9 day long Bhramotsavam at Tirupati.

more and more is there . . . That is Spritual Tamilnadu

 

 

 

Dance's  of Tamilnadu

BHARATA NATYAM

Bharata Natyam, which originates from the state of Tamil Nadu in South India, is one of the oldest and most popular dance styles in India. The word itself is a combination of :--

BHARATA NATYAM = BHAVA (expression) + RAGA (musical mode) + TALA (rhythm) NATYAM (dance)

This style is a direct descendant of devotional dances performed in the temples of South India from the tenth century to the middle of this century. The art of Bharata Natyam has been carried by  'nattuvanars' and ritualistic dancers called devadasis, in the temples of south India.

Bharata Natyam is poetry in motion. Exploring its history in the Natya Sastra, written by the great sage Bharata,  it is a highly traditional & stylized dance form. Bharata Natyam has been immortalized in successive generations, as much by the grace of great dancers as by the nimble fingers of renowned sculptors who have demonstrated the perfection of Bharata's technique.

Bharatanatyam's blend of the abstract & the emotional is derived from its fusion of two prime elements, nritta (pure  dance or dance without interpretive meaning) & nritya (expressive dance). Bharatanatyam derives much of its  intense, dramatic impact from the juxtaposition & contrast with which both elements are utilized. Nritta comprises  adavus, which are the basic dance units of Bharatanatyam. Each adavu contains 3 essential elements, a basic  standing position (sthanaka), movement of the legs & feet (chari) & decorative hand gestures (nritta-hasta).

Folk Dances

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.

Bommalattam or Puppet Show

Puppet shows are held in every village during festivals and fairs. There are always kinds of puppets used for this show made of  cloth, wood, leather, etc. They are controlled by strings or wires. The persons stand behind a screen and the puppets are held in front. The stories enacted in the puppet shows are from Ved-puranas, history and folklore. These shows are very entertaining and hold both adults and childrens quite for many hours.

Kummi

Kummi is one of the most important and ancient forms of village dances of Tamilnadu. It originated when there were no musical instruments, with the participants clapping their hands to keep time. This is performed by women; 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 rhythamically.  This dance is usually performed during temple festivals, Pongal, the harvest festival, family functions like the one to celebrate the coming of age (onset of puberty) of the girl-child etc. The first line of the song is sung by the leading lady, which the others repeat.

Kai Silambu Attam

This dance is performed in temples during Navaratri festival. The dancers wear ankle-bells and hold anklets or silambu in their hands, which make noise when shaken. They perform various stepping styles jumps. The dance is in praise of all female deities, the most preferred being the powerful angry goddess - Kali or Durga.