Poikaal

Poikaal
Originally uploaded by mayavi.

This image was taken at Mayajaal - an entertainment complex in Chennai on the day of Kanum Pongal.

This day is special during the major festival in India called Mahara Sankranti ( in the North India) and Pongal (in the south India). The festival is about paying due respect, thanking and celebrating the nature - for providing a good harvest with good sun and monsoon! It is a 3 day event and during the third day named Kanum Pongal, people just relax and enjoy by going out with their family on the bullock carts(only in villages these days) painted colourfully. At the fair, lots of traditional events are conducted to people's entertainment. One such among them is "Poikaal Kuthirai Attam". The artists dress themselves colourfully and get into a wooden horse and dance. The legs of the horse are those of the artists - Hence the name "Poikaal" meaning false legs. It is one of those lovely dances I have come across with delicate and soft movements with the wooden horse providing the fun.