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KERALA :-
Kathakali
: Literally meaning "Story
Play", Kathakali (Katha-story, Kali-Play).
Kathakali is usually presented in the Temple precincts after dusk. Singers vocalize
the script while the players act out the play with their gestures (mudras and
mughabhinaya). The riches of a happy blending of colour, expressions, music,
drama and dance are
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Kathakali performers require hours of preparation. |
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Mohiniyattom :
As the name denotes, it is an amorous (Lasya) dance performed in slow, elegant
and sensuous pace with formulated hand gestures translating the song to which
it is performed. The tuft knotted at the side of the head adorned by a garland
of jasmine circling it, the dancer with normal facial make up and clad in gilded
sari with series of pleats and jacket sways her body to the rhythm of orchestrated
background music. It presents naturally beautiful dancer in her natural beauty.
Mohini means enchantress and Attam is dance. Legends say that. Once the ocean
of milk was churned by the gods and demons to extract the elixir of life and
immortality. The demons made away with this divine brew. Lord Vishnu came to
the rescue of the panicky gods and assumed the female form of an amorous celestial
dame Mohini. Captivating the demons with her charms, Mohini stole the elixir
from them and restored it to the gods. Slow, graceful, swaying movements of
the body and limbs and highly emotive eye and hand gestures are unique to this
dance form.
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Thiruvathirakali
:
Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women singing in praise of Lord Shiva,
to attain everlasting marital bliss. This dance is performed on Thiruvathira
day (the sixth lunar asterism) in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-
January). The dance is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy,
for this
is what brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced
to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva. The sinuous movements executed by a group
of dancers around a nilavilakku ((pedestal wick lamp), embody 'lasya' or
the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular,
pirouetting
pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing. Today, Thiruvathirakali
has become a popular dance form for all seasons.. |
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TAMIL
NADU :-
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.
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.
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.. | More
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ANDHRA
PRADESH :-
Kuchipudi Dance :Kuchipudi,
the indigenous style of dance of Andhra
Pradesh, was born in the
village of Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram, from
which it takes its name. According to legends,
its founder
was Sidhendra Yogi, a devotee of Lord Krishna.
Handlooms
:Andhra
Pradesh has an age-old tradition of hand-woven
fabrics. Sarees of the most exquisite, unique
and generic designs are found in Andhra Pradesh.
Silk and cotton saris come from the looms of
Pochampalli, Venkatagiri, Gadwal, Narayanpet
and Dharmavaram, and are household names throughout
India. They are named after the place of their
origin. Each of these weaving styles is distinct
producing a unique variety of fabric, known
for their fine cotton and elaborate pallu's
and beautiful borders with ornate gold thread
work.
Handicrafts
:Nirmal is famous for its
wooden toy industry, The fine glazed toys and
paintings are known by the name of the town,
The craftsmen use the locally available soft
wood to carve brightly coloured life like replicas
of vegetables, fruits, animals, dolls etc.
The Nirmal paintings are world famous for their
rich colour and variety. The
town has a fort built by French engineers in the Nizam's service which has a
number of guns.. | More
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MAHARASHTRA:-
Mashru and Himru :Aurangabad is famous
for Mashru and Himru fabrics made of cotton and
silk with the luster of satin. Himru is an age-old weaving craft, and was originally
known as kum khuab.
Paithani
Saris :The art of weaving Paithani saris is 2000 years old. The yarn used is pure silk
and the zari or gold threads are drawn from pure gold. A heavily brocaded
Paithani sari takes anywhere from six months to one and a half years to weave
Kolhapuri
Chappals :Kolhapur
is well known for its textiles and cottons, but
it is of course most famous for
its hand-made leather sandals or chappals . These
leather sandals are very popular the world over,
and their simple styles have made them popular.
The cost depends on the quality of leather and
design, but in general Kolhapuri chappals are reasonable
and good value for money.
Clothing
and Jewellery : Traditionally,
the Maharashtrian woman wears a nine-yard
sari known as navwadi , and the
men are characterised by colourful turbans or phetas
. Maharashtra as a region has a strong textile
history and has several different types of saris
or materials that a typical of a particular part
or region, such as Kolhapur , Pune and Paithan.
Jewellery patterns of the Marathas and the Peshwas
are still very much in vogue. The Maharashtrian
woman loves to wear her malas and hars or necklaces.
A favourite with all, is the nose ring or nath
, usually with pearls and red and white stones.. | More
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