Kuzhithurai
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| ?Kuzhithurai Tamil Nadu • India |
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| Coordinates: (find coordinates) | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Kanniyakumari |
| Population | 20,326 (2001) |
Kuzhithurai is a city and a municipality in Kanniyakumari District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Vilavancode Taluk.
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[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[1] Kuzhithurai had a population of 20,326. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kuzhithurai has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Kuzhithurai, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The best people are in this place.
[edit] Geography
Kuzhithurai municipality spreads over an area of 5 km². The Thamiraparani river flows through Kuzhithurai.
[edit] Miscellaneous
This town is also a centre for the annual Vavu Bhali ceremony held during July along with that Ceremony a great exhibition also take place.
People of this town generally know both Tamil and Malayalam languages, because of its proximity to the state of Kerala. A government Teacher Training school is here.
Apart from all these for entertainment there is Theater also (Lekshmi-DTS) which is just opposite to the Bus Stand.
[edit] Folk Arts
There are several Folk Arts practiced in temples for Sastha (ayyanar), Sudalaimadan and Isakkiamman. Villupattu is especially for Sastha temples and Kaniankoothu is practiced for Sudalaimadan. Grand Tamil poetess Avvaiyar temples are found along with Isakki amman temples and worship of teachings of Avvaiyar can be observed
Many Folk arts and dances are popular in this district. They are played during the time of festivals in temples, celebrations in schools etc.
Bow Song (Villu Paatu) is an ancient form of musical - story - telling art of southern Tamil Nadu. Villu Paatu has been especially popular in Thovalai and neighbouring areas of the district.
Bow, the age-old weapon of warriors - paradoxically lends itself to be used as a primary musical instrument for the Villu Pattu artists. There are Udukku , Kudam, Thala, Kattai, etc. as supplementary instruments in their performances. Udukku, mentioned in the ancient Tamil literature as Thudi, is a small drum with a slender middle portion which is held in the left hand and played by the fingers of the right hand . Occasionally, the Villu Pattu team divides itself into two groups, each trying to prove opposite points-of-view of a subject. This is called Lavani Pattu. The songs used by the Villu Pattu artists are mostly traditional folk-songs.
Thiruvathirai Kali occupies the pride of place among the folk dances. It resembles Kummi and is played especially during Onam festival. The players are young girls. The necessary number of girls is 8,10,12 or 16 for each dance. They move round and sing in chorus. Each girl strikes the stick (Kole) which she holds in each hand, and the striking of the sticks and the steps , which she makes are rhythmical to the tune.
Kalial is a folk dance played by group of men or boys in the country side. A group leader sings songs and keeps time with cymbals. The players stand in a circle with sticks in their hand and dance round a lighted lamp repeating the songs sung by the leader. They turn, twist, lean forward and backward, squat and move round singing to the tune. At the beginning the steps are elaborate and at times, they are also very quick . When invited to perform in a function, the players generally begin the dance with an invocation for heavenly aid and conclude the dance with a torch - dance using lighted torches. This folk dance exhibits the artistic and recreative life of the country side.
Kathakali is a unique form of drama, which has its origin in Travancore. Kathakali (story-dance) is a relatively recent (fifteenth or sixteenth century) development of earlier dances, which, like dances every where, arose out of religious expression through symbolical action. In this art-form, the characters express their ideas not by words, but by significant gestures. In Kanyakumari District, it is now played in the temples at Thiruvattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana, Kuzhithurai, Neyyoor and Munchira during the time of festivals.
Ottam Thullal is a form of story telling. It is a popular for of amusement, staged in the temple premises and Malayalam is the language commonly used. Ottam Thullal is now played in the temples of Thiruvaattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana and Thirunanthikara in the district during the time of festivals.
Kalari, also known as Adimurai in Kanyakumari district, is an ancient martial art, still preserved in the villages of the district, and also in Kerala. A tradition believed to have been founded by Parasurama is known as Vadakkan Kalari ; another is credited to Agasthiar in which the emphasis is on striking at vital points of the body and not on weapons, even through sword, knife, Urumi (rolling sword), Mankombu (horns of a deer), Kandakkodali, (a kind of axe), mazhu (a kind of axe) etc., are also used.
[edit] References
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
[edit] External links
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