zest and grace .... forever.

The women decided to learn kolattam. They found a teacher, another dalit from another village. They contributed the money for his fees, and after a hard day’s labour would get together at 9 p.m., learning and practicing with the teacher till 2 a.m. The rest of the village would gather to enjoy the graceful practices under the moonlight after dinner. When the women and men dance their kolattam in the evenings under the moon the grace in their movements is indescribable.

And after a brief stint of sleep, they would set out for the next day’s labour work. This went on for a month, and then there was the gajjalu, or anklets, pooja, when again each gave guru dakshine, or offering to the guru, according to his or her ability. This was a celebration where relatives from outside the village also came.

All the village children also fashioned kolaatam sticks for themselves, and practised under trees and on the streets ...

This is a kolattam song –as Sita singing to her sister Urmila, also her co-sister for having married Rama’s brother Lakshmana …

Raamune thamudamma naa maradi
(Rama’s younger brother is my brother-in-law)
Raghu Lakshmana devudamma naa maradi ( both * 2)
(Raghu Lakshmana is my brother-in-law)

Vinave Urmila naa muddu chellile ( * 2)
(Won’t you listen Urmila, my darling sister)
Raamune thamuduamma naa maradi
(Rama’s younger brother is my brother-in-law)
Raghu Lakshmana devudamma naa maradi
(Raghu Lakshmana is my brother-in-law)
...