ICHEC-2011 and Thottiyapatty Villagers: mutual folk arts performances and social get-together in Arumbuhalnagar.

Thottiyapatty woman helps ICHEC 2011 Student for Indian tribal hair-dress

Trichy:12,July:ICHEC -2010 are camping in Arumbuhalnagar of SEVAI discover Indian villages culture and folk arts as they build class room in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School. These two group of students Sevai Allur, Coppieters Alexandra, Delvaux Jeremy,Latour Zoe,Monderer Florent, Van Swieten Sandrine,Delvaux Alexia,Kabbaj Mohamed Said,Marlot Camille,tenants Ezlizabeth and Verschaeren Tanguy and SEVAI Amoor group members Vruyns Dorian, Garcia Marian Laura,Helfgott Philippe,Stoquart Celine, Warden Emily,De Canniere Fanny,Gerkbard Dan,Indejeu Madeleine and Wallemacq Richardo were present on this Camp eve presentation work and visit the neighbourhoods of Arumbuhalnagar and also live with Arumbuhalnagar community. The Villagers of Thottiyapatty visited Arumbuhalnagar and displayed their culture in their folk art form of Devaraattam, Kummi, Oyilattam and Urumi attam.The 19 members team of ICHEC also performed their traditional dances and it was a real cultural exchange evening with entertaining peace and love to mankind. Dr.K.Govindaraju enlightened the ICHEC team that Tamilnadu had developed the art of entertainment to its pristine heights at early age.The three modes of entertainment classified as Iyal (Literature), Isai (Music) and Nadagam (Drama) had their roots in the rural folk theatre like Therukoothu. Majority of these dances are still thriving in Tamil Nadu today. The women folk of Thottiyapatty Kambalthu Nacikars performed Kummi.It originated when there were no musical instruments, with the participants clapping their hands to keep time. This was performed by rural women; many varieties of Kummi, such as, Poonthatti Kummi, Kulavai Kummi, Kadir Kummi, Mulaipari Kummi etc. The women stood in a circle and dance clapping their hands rhythmically to lifting songs. This dance was performed and the first line of the song was sung by the leading lady, which the others repeated.ICHEC Team and Villages of Thottiyapatty also joined and performed Kummi as very amusing show.The men with Urumi instrument performed Devaraattam as this Devarattam is a pure folk dance still preserved by the descendents of Veerapandiya Kattabomman dynasty at Kodangipatti. 

Devarattam by Thottiyapatty men in Arumbuhalnagar

Devarattam is a combination of ancient 'muntherkuruvai' and 'pintherkuruvai' of the ancient Tamil Kings. The ICHEC-2011 in SEVAI and village women also formed in lines and danced.
Today, this dance does not have any songs but only danced to the beat of Urumi Melam. The dancers were holding a kerchief in each hand and swing them as they dance. The whirring sound of 'urumi' providing the melody and the beat of the Thappu providing the rhythm, accompanied the dance sequence in this kind of temple art form. Devarattam was performed by the men folk of Kambalathu Naicker .There were thirty-two rhythmic steps in Devarattam. These steps are known as adavu. In the beginning of Devarattam all the dance performers worship the musical instrument and the musical performer and then they begin to perform. Similarly they do in the end of the performance also. It’s a traditional rule that every man from Thottiyapatty Kambalathu Naicker should know Deverattam. Mr.Matthieu de Tillesse, Consultant, ICHEC-Housing Project, Mr.Vincent, Director, and ICHEC-Housing Project were present on this occasion of this social get-together with the villagers of Thottiyapatty. Govin