- Region: Tamil Nadu
- Convoy By: Naiyandi Melam and Pambai
- Praise Of: Lord Muruga
Tamil Nadu state’s Kavadi Aattam dance is folk form, which has been practiced by the regional People as a tradition. Kavadi Aattam dance is a male oriented dance. About the origin of this dance, there is a very amazing story. This dance came into exist during the ancient time. The Tamil Nadu state’s people were visiting the far away Pilgrimages by walk; they were also carrying the lots of offering for the gods. They were reaching to pilgrimage by carrying such a heavy luggage. They were tied their offerings to long stick’s both the ends and they were balancing it on their shoulders.
The complete journey was very complicated and also boring. To entertain themselves and to make journey interesting they were singing the spiritual songs. They were also dancing on that song, along with stick of their luggage. That is how this Kavadi Aattam dance became the dance form of Tamil Nadu state. From that time, the pilgrims started making various special devotional songs for the journey along with Kavadi Sindhua. This dance is only practiced through the Tamilian males. Among the folk dances of this state, this is very much difficult because it requires skill to balance the heavy stick over the shoulder and then dance. In the performance, they carry the pot of coconut water or milk.
The stick through which they hang the pot is usually made by the Teakwood; it is also called as Purasai. The strips of bamboo bent and the shape of half moon gets created. Generally they wrap the stick by cloth of saffron color and they also adorned the stick by using peacock feathers. Majorly Kavadi Aatam dance is devotional form that is usually practiced to praise the Lord Murugan. Lord Shiva’s second son’s name is Lord Murugan. Kavadi Aatam dance contains Pambai and Melam.