Can you imagine balancing a pot on your head while dancing? That is Karakattam. Here at this statue we celebrate an ancient Tamil folk dance. It is performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman.
Karakattam, or Karagam means water pot. It is an ancient folk dance from Tamil Nadu. People perform it to praise Mariamman. The ancient Tamil epic says that this dance comes from Bharatham. It is a mix of Tamil dance forms like Bharatanatyam. People offer this dance to the goddess. They ask her to bless the land with rain. The dance includes folk Carnatic songs like Amrithavarshini.
The performers balance a pot on their head. The pot is called a karakam. Traditionally, there are two types of Karakattam. Aatta Karakam shows joy and happiness. People mainly perform it as entertainment. Sakthi Karakam is only for temples. It is a spiritual offering.
Karakattam invokes rain through classical Tamil dance. The most common song uses Amrithavarshini Ragam. Tamils believe that mother nature gives rain. She also protects the harvest.
Dancers traditionally wear a saree for Karakattam. Attire can vary. The main thing is to have a karakam, a pot, on the dancer’s head. Common attire includes sarees or kurtas. Dancers also use colored towels.
Let’s discuss the attire more. The current Karakattam fashion seems changed. Bharatanatyam purists dismiss the art. They see it as non-traditional and low class. It has become more of a night glamour art. Young girls in skimpy clothing are preferred as performers. The audience includes drunkards. They come only to ogle and tease them. The Madras High Court has taken action. It disallows alcohol when attending performances. It also prohibits obscene and vulgar performances.
In Caribbean Shaktism, Karakattam is Karagam Puja. It is also Kalasa Puja. People of Tamil origin brought the tradition to the Caribbean. They were indentured servants from the Indian Subcontinent.
Karagam Puja lasts for three days. Devotees fast before the ceremonies. The festival honors gods Kanchi Kamakshi and Madurai Meenakshi. It also honors Kali or Mariamma. There is a puja before the procession. Ganga Amman and Kaateri Maa are honored. A procession goes to the river. Offerings are thrown into the water. Marlo pujaris enter a trance. Sangili Karuppu and Madurai Veeran are honored. They whip themselves and take oaths. They put lit camphor on their tongues. This proves they are in a trance. It purifies them before they speak. They walk on hot coals. Other stunts include piercing tongues and cheeks. They dance on sharpened machetes.
The lotas, pots, are kept in the temple. They are consecrated. They are built with a coconut. There are layers of neem leaves and oleander flowers. Three participants enter the Sami Aduthal stage. Two carry the Karagams. These are often young boys or women. The other receives the god Madurai Veeran. He wears a garland of oleander flowers. He carries a staff with neem leaves.
In 1989, the Tamil movie Karakattakkaran was released. It featured Ramarajan, Kanaka, and Kovai Sarala. They played Karakattam performers. The movie became very popular. It advertised the dance form. The music was by Ilaiyaraja. The song was Maanguyilae Poonguyile. It had Karakattam choreography.
Other films have shown Karakattam. Padai Veetu Amman in 2001 had Meena performing the dance. Sri Bannari Amman in 2002 showed a hereditary Karakattam dancer. A song in the film featured the dance.
The Chennai Corporation has installed sculptures. They show the importance of performing arts. These include silambattam, karakattam, and poikal kudirai. These sculptures cost Rs 16.6 lakh. Students from the Government College of Fine Arts helped. They brought to life goods transported on the Buckingham Canal. This canal use to be active until three decades ago.
The intersections at Ramakrishna Mutt Road and Kamarajar Salai will get sculptures. These will portray a dancing troupe. This signifies the nearby Government Music College. Sculptures of silambattam and karakattam were installed near Loyola College. They were also placed at Valluvar Kottam and College Road. The cost was Rs 17.32 crore in 2008.
The sculptures are up to 8 ft high. They are made of fiber glass. G Chandrasekaran said it will be like revisiting history for the younger generation.
So, as you leave this Karakattam Statue, remember the rich history. Think of the dancers balancing pots. Appreciate the devotion to Mariamman. Carry the rhythm of the folk tunes with you.