Mayilattom
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Mayilattam is an artistic and religious form of dance performed in the
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
temples of
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
and
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
in reverence to
Murugan Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...
, a regional form of the Hindu deity
Kartikeya Kartikeya (/Sanskrit phonology, kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda (Sanskrit phonology, /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/Sanskrit phonology, sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha (Sanskrit phonology, /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan ...
. Literally translating as the "peacock dance", the performers seat themselves upon a peacock replica, which is the mount of the deity.


Description

Mayilattam performers wear costumes from head to toe with headdresses and peacock feathers, that can be opened and closed using a thread, and perform specific dances. The performers dance on a tall piece of wood attached at the end of their feet. This dance is performed in all Murugan temples as a tradition during festivals. The number of Mayilattam performers is decreasing due to financial reasons. The Mayil Attam dance is thought to have originated in Tamil Nadu, where ladies used to perform it to honor Lord Subrahmanya, also known as Kartikeya or Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati.This dance is typically performed by females dressed in the most stunning peacock forms. This art needs a lot of practice and training. During festivals, this dance is performed in all Murugan (Lord Subrahmanya) temples as a custom. Mayilattam dance isn't complete without the appropriate attire. Along with the show, the dress code adds to the allure. Imitating the movement and style of a peacock is part of the dance movement. The dancer demonstrates how the bird cleans its feathers with its beak and legs, with meticulous planning and execution. The melody is then followed by close steps going at a slow rhythmic speed. As the time and rhythm speed, each movement follows a circular pattern. Finally, when the music reaches its height, the circular pattern's order is shattered. However, because of difficulty in practising and lower pay for dancers, the number of Mayilattam performers is dwindling.


References

Tamil dance styles {{Hinduism-stub