The Kavadi may vary in shape and size and it has rice, milk or anything that the devotee would like to offer to Lord Murugan.ĭevotees start preparing for the festival 48 days before the Thaipusam. Lord Murugan is worshipped by making ceremonial sacrifices and offerings to pray to him to help them ward off their debts and to be saved from any kind of calamity. In this festival, Lord Murugan, the God of War is worshipped. The name Kavadi Attam, literally means ‘Burden dance’. The festival of Kavadi Attam is a religious folk dance which is celebrated by the Hindus of Tamil Nadu. Acrobatics similar to circus are included such as, dancing on a rolling block of wood, up and down a ladder, threading a needle while bending backwards and so on. Both male and female performers participate in this. This dance is very popular all over Tamilnadu, though its birth place is said to be Thanjavur.

The parrot rotates as the dancer swings along. The pots are decorated with a cone of flower arrangements, topped by a paper parrot. Today, the pots have transformed from mud pots to bronzeware and even stainless steel in modern times. Earlier it was performed only to the accompaniment of Naiyandi Melam but now it includes songs also. This is one of the more popular rural dances today. The dance is performed in temples and on festival occasions as entertainment. More often it is danced with decorated pot on the head and is known as ‘Aatta Karagam’ and symbolises joy and merriment. In Mariamman or Durga temple as ritual dance, It is called ‘Sakthi Karagam’. This dance has two divisions- one, Aatta Karagam and the other Sakthi Karagam performed with a fire pot on the head. In Sangam literature, It is mentioned as ‘Kudakoothu’. Traditionally, this dance was performed by the villagers in praise of the rain goddess Mari Amman and river goddess, Gangai Amman. Karagam is a folk dance with musical accompaniment performed balancing a pot on the head.

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