nadu Vasantha kaalam as the Spring Equinox heralds the vernacular New Year Varsha Pirappu and a spate of festivities W elcome to warm Tamil nadu its myriad mysteries bountiful lands ancient traditions rustic crafts and rich culture ID: 781383
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Slide1
A riot of
colours
and a heady fragrance of fresh flowers is in the air. It is Spring in Tamil
nadu
, Vasantha
kaalam
, as the Spring Equinox heralds the vernacular New Year, Varsha Pirappu and a spate
of festivities.
W
elcome to warm Tamil
nadu
, its myriad mysteries, bountiful lands, ancient traditions, rustic crafts and rich culture.
“
Vanakkam
” we
say. A greeting that has humility and respect in its essence.
Slide2Bhava or emotions, Raga or melody and
Tala, rhythm come together as BhaRaTa Natya.
A dance form that has moved from the sacred precincts of the temples, palaces and regal patronage to global glory today.
Who hasn’t seen ‘Nataraja’ or the dancing Shiva whose cosmic dance the Austrian-American Physicist, Frijtof Capra glorified in his ‘The Tao of Physics’? Tamil nadu boasts of 25 or more distinct folk dance forms that are entwined in the daily lives of the common man. Iyal (stories) Isai (music) Natakam (drama) come together as dancers and musicians transport us into a world where time stops to meditate.
Slide3Temples & traditions
Lofty towers or
Gopurams
dot the skyline of the Southern state of Tamilnadu, drawing the devout and the connoisseurs of art and architecture from across the world. The temples of Tamilnadu are living testimony to the architectural skills, artistry and engineering prowess of the ancient Tamils.Woven into the social fabric of the common man, these temples have stood the test of time and endured war and weather, often standing in as protective fortresses and shelter.Prasadam
or sanctified food serves to satiate the spirit and very often, many a hungry wanderer.
The decorative
K
olams
or floor murals, festoons of seasonal flowers and leaves, oil lamps, conches and bells seen and heard in temples resound in Tamil homes with positive energy, all year round.
Slide4Festivals & Culture
Home to a diverse population,
Tamilnadu
celebrates every season and every occasion of the many groups of people that live in harmony.Festivals glorify the bounty of nature, changing seasons and the many moods of celebration. Aromatic spices and herbs add favour to food that is distinct to the 30 odd geographic districts of the state. Yes. Really.Way before the food fads took charge, the Tamils knew and relished the wholesome taste of millets, fruits and vegetables in plenty.Local weekly Sandai’s or farmer-trader markets brought goods and camaraderie to the people of villages. Local games and fortune telling are aplenty, to humour and entertain the hardworking people.
Slide5Handicraft – Silk – Sculpture – Art
Ancient Tamil literature calls out 64 skills and crafts that generations of families
practised
and passed down through the system of apprenticeships.Arts flourished under the patronage of the kings and Tanjore’s famous bejeweled paintings continue to be highly valued. The jewellers of Tamilnadu lovingly crafted jewellery to adorn deities, royalty and the common man with equal artistry.Potters, Stone workers, metal smiths created poetry out of earthy materials – clay, stone, bronze, silver and gold.Weavers of palm mats were as dextrous as weavers of fabric and the mats and fabric of
Tamilnadu
continue to be prized possessions for over centuries.
The Kanchipuram silks with gold threadwork are treasured
possesions
and works of fine art.
Slide6The Shore temple & Mahabalipuram
The 7
th
Century AD UNESCO World Heritage Site has stories and history wrought in stone. The Pallava kings love of art and archtecture has given us living history books and tales no traveller every forgets. The once submerged monolithic shore temples present a magnificent silhouette along the azure Coromandel coast and endless Bay of Bengal.Once a small thriving seaport, the busy town remains quaint and attractive with its dusty lanes lined with stone craftsmaen displaying exquiiste heriditary skills that have now
beenhoned
to take on global demands.
Today, they export, ship and make to order for every port and market that has good taste in fine craftsmanship.
Slide7Vanakkam! We say, come again soon…
Warm
, mysterious and more,
Tamilnadu has much to explore and lots to discover.We have had but a tiny glimpse into the charms and wonders of an incredible land, her warm people, hoary history, rich cuture and inherent traditions.Come back for more.We hope you enjoyed this Cardinal Club Experience.