A folk art form still alive in many of the villages is Kolattam, literally called as Stick Dance. Girls holing different coloured sticks dance to rhythmic tunes. It is a very pleasant experience to listen to the sticks when hit synchronising with the bodily movements and hitting of the sticks.

When this folk art form was introduced as a prayers to God for good rains, only male members used to participate in this dance. When years passed by, both males and females used to join together for the dance. The dance form gradually evolved into one participated exclusively by girls and women of all age groups.

Even today the villages of Southern and Northern part of Tamilnadu conduct this art form at a large scale to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. Usually the festival lasts for ten days and the entire female strength of the village assembles for the rehearsal and main events, which is indeed colourful to watch and enjoy.

Kolattam takes place in different forms. The southernmost villages of Tamil Nadu host this festival offering prayers to Varuna Baghavan, the celestial God for Rains. The final day of the event is so enthralling to witness that the procession will have children, teenage girls, young unmarried women, married women in the age group of 30-40, elderly segment aged between 40-60 and women above the age of 60 in distinct groups forming a circle and dancing for rhythmic tunes with the sticks hitting at intervals.

The entire procession goes around the village and the onlookers are so curious to watch the groups performing kolattam and more importantly their dressing and ornaments attract everyone. The creativity and innovation with variety of songs sung during the procession makes the show more interesting.

After reaching the river bank, the procession halts for religious poojas and rituals and come back to the temple to offer their prayers with which the festival comes to an end.

The pre-festival period where rehearsals take place for hours together and the actual festival days make the entire village so colourful and enjoyable.

Try to include any one of the villages in Tamil Nadu where Kolattam is still an active art form during your visit to Tamilnadu this time