Karagattakkaran

Understand

Where Karagattakkaran comes from

Karagattakkaran (or Karagattam) is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in worship of goddess Mariamman. The dance is associated with the festival of the rain god Indrain the Kongu region of western Tamil Nadu and is performed in thanksgiving for rain by the farming community. The name derives from karagam, the brass pot on which the performer balances and dances. Historically Karagattam was one of the most demanding and spectacular of the Tamil folk dances, performed at the Mariamman temple festivals of Kongunadu and southern Tamil Nadu.

How it's practiced

Karagattam is performed by a solo performer (usually a man) who balances a brass pot (the karagam) on his head while performing dances, acrobatics and complex steps on a narrow surface — sometimes a single raised pole, sometimes the rim of a sword or even on a tight rope. The dancer places the pot, spins on it, does cartwheels with it, and removes it with a flourish at the end. The accompanying music is the thavil drum and nadaswaram, with a vocalist leading the sung accompaniment. Costume is the colourful Tamil dance dress — dhoti, turban, garlands and heavy bells.