The Margazhi and Village Festival 2017-18 at DakshinaChitra coincides with the New Year Celebration and has been tailor-made to suit the festive mood and will have plenty of folk art forms all day through the month in village style. The visitors will get to witness and experience the rich and varied folk art forms of South India.
27 th Dec to 31 st Dec 2017:
Therukoothu dance performance of Tamil Nadu by Sri Thanthoniamman Therukoothu Nadaga Sabha led by D. Elumalai from Akkur, Tamil Nadu.. More than being a traditional art, Therukoothu has great social importance and religious importance relevant to village and agricultural life. Spontaneous dialogue delivery and use of effective dance movements and music are the unique characteristics of Therukoothu.
1 st Jan 2018:
Thappattam performance by Asathaladi Tharathappatta Isaikuzhu from Thiruvannamalai district, TN. Thappattam also known as Paraiattam is a rural folk art form. Thappu or Parai is the name of the single-sided drum played by the dancers while they perform.
3 rd Jan to 7 th Jan 2018:
Thira Poothan performance by Raman Smaraka Thira Poothan Kali Sangam from Kerala. It is a ritualistic art form in which people dance in costumes representing Poothan (Shiva's lieutenant) and Thira (Goddess Kali) to the accompaniment of drummers. The dancers wear large fan-shaped head-dresses and imposing masks, often with sticking-out tongues and bulging eyes. The dancer playing Poothan usually wears a bright coloured tightly woven costume, often including bright red elements and embellished with
gold-coloured trinkets that rattle when the dancer moves. The dancer playing Thira wears a semicircular black crown with symbols of the goddess embossed on it.
10 th Jan to 16 th Jan 2018:
Pongal, the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu will be celebrated with great pomp and grandeur at DakshinaChitra, creating the mood and colours of rural Tamil Nadu. Visitors will witness varied Tamil Nadu folk dances led by renowned folk artist Thanjai G. Raju. The performances include Karagattam, Mayilattam and Poikkaal kuthirai attam.
17 th Jan to 21 st Jan 2018:
Pattada Kunitha/Pata Kunitha by Daiah Janapada Kalavidaru from Karnataka. The folk dance form is performed mainly by men. It is carried out using tall bamboo poles. The poles are decorated with colored ribbons and crowned with tiny silver or brass umbrella. Narration has little significance in this dance form.
24 th Jan to 28 th Jan 2018:
Dappu dance by Shri Bharathi Kala Samithi, Andhra Pradesh. The performers wear colourful and bright costumes accessorized by attractive finery. Dappu is often performed in large groups, where dancers manage to create a soulful and sweet ambience through the melodious notes of their ankle bells and one-sided drums.