TAMIL ARCHITECTURE :

Tamil architecture is the style and techniques developed in the Tamil regions over
thousands years. Although ancient Tamil architecture included houses, palaces
and public buildings, the surviving ancient signatory buildings are temples. Two
important collections of these ancient monuments have been recognized by
UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. They are Mahabalipuram (600-900), and the
Great Living Chola Temples (848-12 No other musical instruments are used in this
dance except the ankle-bells.
DANCE:
Oyil kummi:
This dance is performed by men only, during temple festivals. Stories and episodes
centering around Murugan and Valli are depicted in the songs. As one of the rare
folk art forms of ancient Tamil nadu, this is being practised now by the Telugu
speaking people of the northern districts.80).
Thappaattam:
Thappu is the name of a rhythmic beat instrument and Thappattam is practiced
among the suppressed Dalits classes of the people of the Tamil Nadu. The subtle
form of dance accompanied by captivating music, is an ancient rural folk art
which is even now popular in urban slum areas in villages.

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TAMIL MUSIC INTRUMENTS:

Cilappatikaram :
Cilappatikaram makes reference to five types of instruments:
Tolkaruvi (lit. 'skin instruments' = percussion),
Tulaikaruvi (lit. 'holed instruments' = wind instruments),
Narambukaruvi (stringed instruments),
Midatrukaruvi (vocalists) and
Kanchakaruvi (gongs and cymbals).
The flute and the yaazh were the most popular instruments, while there were
numerous kinds of percussion instruments suited for various occasions.
Cilappatikaram also contains detailed instructions on the art of tuning and playing
the yaazh.
SPORTS:
Ilavatta Kal - Hosted for young men. They need to lift a huge spherical stone.
Aadu Puli aatam:((Tamil: , Game of goats and tigers ?)) is a
strategic, two-player (or 2 teams) board game that is played in south India. Like
Pulijudam, the game is asymmetric in that one player controls three tigers and the
other player controls up to 15 goats. The tigers 'hunt' the goats while the goats
attempt to block the tigers' movements.

JEWELLERY:
Tamil people are fond of golden jewellery, which has a history
long before Sangam period. Ancient Tamil literature list out what
are the different types of jewellery wore by women from top to
toe on those days. That can be very well evidenced from the
sculptures we find today. Apart from gold, jewelries were made of
silver, copper and brass.
Eg: Bullakku, A designer jewel worn in the that hangs from the
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nose stead or ear stead. Vagupu ch utti or Chutti, Jewel for the
forehead.
KOLAM:
Decoration is not the sole purpose of a Kolam. In olden days, kolams were drawn
in coarse rice flour, so the ants would not have to walk too far or too long for a
meal. The rice powder also invited birds and other small creatures to eat it, thus
welcoming other beings into one's home and everyday life: a daily tribute to
harmonious co-existence. It is a sign of invitation to welcome all into the home, not
the least of whom is Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. The patterns
range between geometric and mathematical line drawings around a matrix of dots
to free form art work and closed shapes. Folklore has evolved to mandate that the
lines must be completed so as to symbolically prevent evil spirits from entering the
inside of the shapes, and thus are they prevented from entering the inside of the
home.

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