- Region
- Across Tamil Nadu
- Best time
- Temple festival seasons, Pongal (January), summer Amman festivals
Dance and drama forms
In Karagattam, dancers balance decorated pots on their heads while moving to fast rhythms, traditionally in honour of Mariamman, the goddess linked with rain. Puli Attam, the tiger dance, features performers painted in yellow and black stripes with tails and masks, prowling and leaping to pounding drums at temple festivals. Oyilattam, from the Kongu region in western Tamil Nadu, is a graceful line dance with ankle bells in which more dancers join as it goes on.
Theru Koothu is open-air street theatre from the northern districts, staged at crossroads through the night during village festivals, often in the Tamil months of Aadi and Panguni. Men play all the roles, including female ones, in stories drawn from the epics. Bommalattam is puppet theatre, telling similar tales for audiences of all ages.
Devotional and martial forms
Kavadi Attam is danced by pilgrims carrying decorated arches to Murugan temples, accompanied by songs called Kavadi Chindu. Kai Silambu Attam, performed with ankle bells during Amman festivals and Navaratri, praises the goddess. Silambattam began as a martial art using long bamboo staffs and is now also shown as a display of skill and discipline. Bhagavatha Nadanam, performed around a lamp in temples, honours Krishna at festivals such as Gokulashtami.
- Karagattam
- Puli Attam
- Oyilattam
- Theru Koothu
- Bommalattam
- Kavadi Attam
- Silambattam
- Poikkal Kuthirai Attam
- Kolattam
- Mayil Attam
Costume dances
In Poikkal Kuthirai Attam, the dummy-horse dance, a dancer wears a light horse frame around the waist and moves on wooden stilts so they seem to ride. Mayil Attam, the peacock dance, uses feathered costumes, with related versions featuring bulls, bears and mythical creatures. Kolattam is a women's dance in which pairs strike short sticks in rhythm while weaving patterns.
Where to see them
The best chances are at village temple festivals, especially Amman festivals in summer, Murugan festivals such as Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram, and the Pongal holidays in January. Cultural programmes in Chennai and during tourism festivals also stage several forms. Around our home district of Cuddalore, Theru Koothu and Karagattam are common at local festivals, and we can help you time a visit.
Plan it with us
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will build the route, book the car, driver and hotels, and send you a clear quote.
