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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Tamil folk dance}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}<br />
'''Kai silambattam''' is an ancient [[dance forms of Tamil Nadu|folk dance]] practiced mainly in Tamil Nadu. It is usually performed by women holding a [[silambu]] (a type of anklet) in their hands. The dancers generally make specific rhythms using the anklet. The dance is usually dedicated to Hindu gods or goddesses and performed during festivals and village festivities.<br />
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==Technique==<br />
Female dancers wearing [[anklet|ankle-bells]] and holding a [[silambu]] in their hands, make rhythmic noises while dancing.{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}{{sfn|Kasturi|2007|p=518}} The metal silambu is shaken and rattled with the hand in a rhythmic synchronisation to make various noises.{{sfn|Khokar|2003|p=59}}<ref name="TN">{{cite web|url=https://ranipet.nic.in/art-culture/|title=Art and culture|work=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref> There is no prescribed number of people involved in the dance, and it is generally performed in pairs of even number of artists ranging from two to eight.<ref name="TN"/><br />
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The dance is performed by people of all ages, who possess the physical energy to perform the dance. Senior artistes often teach younger artistes as a form of tradition.<ref name="TN"/> The dance is accompanied by music from traditional [[Ancient Tamil music|Tamil instrument]] called ''Pambai''. The art form is also called ''Pambai silambattam'' associated with the music instrument.<ref name="TN"/> The dance is also performed by male dances during festivals.{{sfn|Khokar|2003|p=59}} <br />
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==Costume and accessories==<br />
{{see|Silambu}}<br />
[[File:Statue_of_Kannagi.jpg|thumb|[[Kannaki]] holding a [[silambu]] in her hand (a scene from ''[[Cilappatikaram]]''<ref name="Silambu"/>)]]<br />
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There is no prescribed costume for this art form.<ref name="TN"/> [[Silambu]] is the main accessory used in the dance. A silambu is typically known as ''kal chilambu'' (leg anklet) as it is worn on the leg.{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}{{sfn|Marcuse|1975|p=476}} It is usually a hollow tubular metal structure in the form of a ring.{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}{{sfn|Marcuse|1975|p=476}}{{sfn|Banerji|1959|p=190}} The dance is called ''kai silambattam'' as the silambu is held in the hand, and to specifically distinguish it from the martial art form of [[silambattam]].<ref name="TN"/> <br />
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The silambu is made of metals such as [[silver]],{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}{{sfn|Marcuse|1975|p=476}} or [[copper]].{{sfn|Banerji|1959|p=190}} It consists of metal beads or pellets inside, which make a noise when rattled.{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}{{sfn|Marcuse|1975|p=476}}{{sfn|Banerji|1959|p=190}} It finds mention in early [[Tamil literature]] from the [[sangam period]]. It forms the basis of the [[Sangam literature]] ''[[Cilappatikaram]]'', which is named after it.<ref name="Silambu">{{cite book|title=Shilappadikaram|trans-title=The Ankle Bracelet|author=Iḷaṅkōvaṭikaḷ|year=1965|isbn=978-0-81120-001-1|publisher=New Directions Publishing}}</ref> The dancers wear anklets or ankle-bells, which also produce sounds along with the silambu.{{sfn|Sambamoorthy|1976|p=23}}<ref name="TN"/><br />
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==Occasion==<br />
The dance is mostly performed in temples, as a way of worship or veneration of the deities.<ref name="TN"/> It is performed in temples during [[Amman]] festivals or [[Navaratri]] festival especially to praise female deities like [[Durga]] or [[Kali]].{{sfn|Kasturi|2007|p=518}}{{sfn|Khokar|2003|p=59}} It is also performed during festivals and village festivities.{{sfn|Khokar|2003|p=59}} For example, it is performed on auspicious days and as a part of [[Thaipusam]] festivities along with [[Kavadi Aattam|kavadi]]. It is also performed during special occasions such as [[marriages]] and [[ear-boring]] ceremonies.<ref name="TN"/> It is also performed on stage as a part of cultural activities.<ref name="TN"/><br />
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==Areas of practice==<br />
Kai silambattam is an ancient [[dance forms of Tamil Nadu|folk dance]] practiced mainly in Tamil Nadu.{{sfn|Narayan|2007|p=139}} It is predominantly practiced in the northern districts of [[Dharmapuri district|Dharmapuri]], [[Kancheepuram district|Kancheepuram]], [[Ranipet district|Ranipet]], [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]], and [[Vellore district|Vellore]],<ref name="TN"/> and certain other districts such as [[Thanjavur district|Thanjavur]], and [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.valaitamil.com/kai-silambattam_10453.html|title=Kai Silambattam|lang=ta|work=Valai Tamil|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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===Bibliography===<br />
*{{cite book|last=Banerji|first=Projesh|url=https://archive.org/details/FolkDanceOfIndia/page/n106/mode/1up|title=The Folk-Dance of India|date=1959|publisher=Kitabistan|location=[[Allahabad]]}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Kasturi|first=Prema|title=South India Heritage:An Introduction|year=2007|isbn=978-8-18866-164-0|publisher=East West Books|location=[[Chennai]]}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Folk Dance: Tribal, Ritual & Martial Forms|first=Ashish |last=Khokar|year=2003|isbn=978-8-12910-097-9|publisher=[[Rupa Publications]]}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Marcuse|first=Sibyl|title=Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary|date=1975|publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company|Norton]]|location=[[New York City]]|chapter=Silambu|isbn=978-0-39300-758-9|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/musicalinstrumen00marcu/page/476/mode/1up}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Flipside of Hindu Symbolism:Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism|first=M.K.V.|last=Narayan|year=2007|isbn=978-1-59682-117-0|publisher=Fultus Corporation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewRfp4qpvt4C}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Sambamoorthy|first=P.|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.chennai.82|title=Catalogue of Musical Instruments Exhibited in the Government Museum, Chennai|date=1976|publisher=Principal Commissioner of Museums, [[Government Museum, Chennai|Government Museum]]|location=[[Chennai]]}}<br />
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{{Dance in India}}<br />
[[Category:Tamil dance styles]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil culture]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu traditions]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu art]]</div>Harryson3545