Every Year Kollattam celebration
is celebrated in our village. In my childhood I participated.After morethan 3 decades
this year .
Iam very fortunate to
participate in this function. I recollect
memories of my young age about this festival..
Kolattam is an ancient village
art which is performed by groups of young girls &women , with two sticks
held in each hand, beaten to make a rhythmic sound. The stick provides the main rhythm and this
dance is performed during village festivals. Kolattam is derived from the word
‘Kol’ (small stick) and ‘Attam’ (play)dance. The two sticks held in the hand of
each girl/woman is struck against those of the other girls/women in rotation,
producing beautiful music. The stick provides the main rhythm and music
delights one and all and is performed during festivals .
Kolattam festival, , is popular
in the villages of central and south Tamil Nadu. It Kolattam festival commences
every year on the new moon day just after Deepavali and ends on the full moon
day. On the evening of New moon day,. The young girls get together on the banks
of the river,pool or lake and collect a mound of clay. This clay is then taken
to the potter,
A potter makes a little image of a cow and
calf and the customary nine grains (Palligai)are made to sprout. He then
colours it with natural dyes such as lime stone paint for white and charcoal
powder for black. This figurine is called “Pasuvan”.
This “Pasuvan” is placed at the village Bajanai madam and worshiped.
It is for this deity
that girls perform Kolattam as an invocation to the Rain God.The ladies and
children sprinkled Nava Dhanyas on five earthen
cups (Palligai) All the assembled ladies
and children were offered betal leaf etc.... The children began to perform
Kollattam in front of Passavan, the Idol.
Everyday, the young girls with Kolattam sticks
gather in the evening and perform Kolattam in front of each house in the
Agraharam. In every stage of the dance, each girl has one stick in each of her
hands and the stick in the hand of each girl is struck against those of the
other girls in rotation, producing beautiful music. This dance is set to tune
in different Ragas and songs. Songs about Lord Krishna are primarily sung.
கோலேன
கோலே
கோலேன
கோலே
பாலா நீலா லா கோலே
பால
பாவன லீல விலோசன
பால
ப்ரபஞ்ச கோலே
The dancers themselves sing the songs, which
are mostly on Lord Krishna, and pray for rains and rich harvests in the coming
year. Young girls pray for the prosperity of the land, pray to the rain God to
shower his blessings so that the village pond is filled to the brim and
farmlands give a bountiful crop.People have strong belief that God will fullfill young girls prayers.
The significant verse is – “Swamy, give us
rain; let the tanks and ponds overflow; let whatever we sow turn into gold; let
us see many husks of grain!
‘மழை
ரொம்பப் பெய்ய வேணும்; சுவாமி,
குளங்கள்
பெருக வேணும்;
பூமியில் போட்டது பொன்னாய் விளையணும்;
பொலி ரொம்பக் காண வேணும்.’
The age group of dancers grouped
in pairs.. The artists led by the leader move into two circles moving in and
out .The inner circle groups receives
the strikes while the outer circle delivers them according to the rhythm of the
sticks.The sound /rhythm of the sticks are itself a music to hear .Another
dance known as Pinnal Kolattam is danced
with ropes which the women hold in their hands, the other of which are tied to
a tall pole. With planned steps, the women skip over each other, which forms
intricate lace-like patterns in the ropes. As coloured ropes are used, this
lace looks extremely attractive. Again, they unravel this lace reversing the
dance steps The girls, at the end of the session bring edibles from their
houses and offer it as neivedhyam to the “Pasuvan”
The girls earn their monetary
reward and accumulate it collectively so that they can use this fund for the
Big day. On the purnima day, these young
girls are entitled to a relaxing oil bath. Oil and soapnut powder is provided
to the girls by the Village head/the house that takes responsibility for
“Pasuvan”. The girls then adorn themselves with fine silks,jewellery and
flowers.
A young brahmachary boy in the village selected as “Pasuvan Pillai” is gifted with
a “kuttai”, towel and garland.
He then accompanies the “Pasuvan” in a bullock
cart or “Chaparam”(palanquin)(Nowadays taken in car)to the river or lake accompanied by nathaswaram, melam and petromax
light . Ladies and girls, grouped age-wise, also join the procession singing
songs and playing various types of kolattam. New songs are also composed every
year.. The young girls perform
kolattam all along the route in front of the “Pasuvan”. All the women of the
Agraharam now join the young girls in the dance and song. Older women perform
“Kummi” dance. At the river bank, the
“Pasuvan” is immersed in the river/vayal and
the Paaligai is dissolved in the waters by the elderly ladies and. On
their way back, Haarathi is performed before the houses.. then prasadam is
distributed. The ladies were given thamboolam and dinner. This will be followed
by a grand communal feast. ”.
Through these festival we learn about the seasons, effect of
monsoon on the harvest, and learn to share, work as a team and manage public
fund. This festival gives the villagers an opportunity to mingle freely, to
exhibit their skill and imagination in composing and singing songs, learn how
to express and communicate without words. as well as strengthening unity and
co-operation.
