An ancient folk arts form which is both culturally and religiously significant is Veeranatyam, popular across the East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, especially in Kammam, Kurnool, Ananthapur and Warangal regions.

The dance form is aptly coined as it is an art for someone who is really brave. People from Veeramusti community of Andhra Pradesh, who are believed to be the descendants of cohorts for Lord Veerabadra, one of the ferocious forms of Lord Shiva usually are acknowledged to perform this vigorous Veerantayam dance. The entire dance in different stages is performed to worship Lord Shiva.

The costume is very simple for the dancers, a normal dhothi with a waist sash, but the way in which the dance picks up a vigour through the stages is something amazing. The first stage of Veeranatyam starts with large plates loaded with fired up camphor being carried by the dancers and the rhythm goes to the peak with the roar of several of percussion instruments.

First phase of the dance continues until the fire blazes. Then a priest appears and waves a long sword indicating the dancers to move to second phase of dance carrying a sanctimonious pole smeared with sacred ash called Vibuthi and the pole is revered to be the Dwaja Sthamba of Lord Shiva. Finally the dance enters into the third phase which is truly ferocious where the team dance with tridents pierced into their tongues, ankles and hands, and this stage is called as Narasam.

It is so amazing to see all the dancers smearing their body with the sacred ash, dancing vigorously to the drum beats, glorifying Lord Shiva. Though it is a spiritually inclined art form, it has been gaining fame and the team of dancers are invited for performing in several religious possessions of other regions as well.