Poikkal Kuthirai Aattam, or dummy horse dance, is performed primarily during religious festivals in which state?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Tamil Nadu.
Poikkal Kuthirai Aattam, or the dummy horse dance, is performed primarily during religious festivals and temple ceremonies in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a traditional folk dance where dancers adorn a dummy horse made of, for example, jute, cardboard, or paper-mache, attached to their waist and use wooden legs (or stilts) to create the illusion of riding a horse while moving with grace to the beat of instruments like the nadaswaram and thavil.
Key details about the performance include:
- Cultural Significance: This folk dance is usually performed to honor village guardian deities, specifically Ayyanar, during festivals.
- Alternative Names: It is also known as Puravi Aattam (horse dance) or Poikkal Kuthirai (false-leg horse).
- Origin: Often associated with the Thanjavur region, it is believed to have been popularized during the Maratha rule in Tamil Nadu.
- Other Regions: Similar forms exist in Andhra Pradesh (Theelu Gurram) and Kerala (Kuthikali).