Address:
Theni, THENI ,TAMIL NADU - 625531
About type of art
The Palliyan are found in the Palani Hills of Anna District , the western Ghats of Tirunelveli and Madurai District of TamilNadu.They are the traditional peoples celebrating the own deity Elathu palachi(peechiyamman) amman, and they also use their own traditional instruments. They keep Pongal to their god at the time of the festival and worship. They prey their god for good time and situation for the agriculture.
The dress costumes are designed from sivakai pattai. For the Dance performance they use face costumes like thekilai kundandak , the colours. The dress used for the dance is sivakai dress, Thandaigal, Bamboo Malai, Bamboo earrings, Valaikal,Kambu,Muthu, aria adai. The hat used for the dance is made up of sikakai pattai.
The Palliyan use musical instruments such as pipes and drums.They have a rich repertoire of folklore and folk songs.The tradition instruments like Nahara, Jattithalam, Mungilvathiyam,sillangai,chemba,Jaldra and urmi.
This Palliyan Dance is performed at the time of Harvesting , marriage, rituals, festival, ear piercing ceremony, tonsuring ceremony. The dance performance is done where the function is held. This dance is performed in three types like paddy threshing festival, marriage function and Adoration function. Paddy threshing dance festival is celebrated at the time when peoples are working in the agriculture field should not feel lazy and tied at the time of agriculture work and also to make them enthusiasm and get more energy. Marriage song is celebrated at the marriage house where the groom and bride family gather and the song says the jokes and enjoyment of the family. After harvesting they celebrate by praying their god for the good yield. And they pray the god for good climate, good situations and protection of the agriculture land from the wild animals for the next cultivation.