Folk arts arangetram attracts huge crowd near Tirupur: young performers revive traditions

A colorful display of Tamil folk dance brought together participants from schoolchildren to seniors this week at the North Kamatchiyamman Temple grounds in Rakkiyapalayam, Tirupur district. Sangamam Kalaikuzhu marked significant milestones with multiple arangetrams, highlighting local efforts to keep rural performing arts alive.

Milestones for three traditional forms

The programme, overseen by troupe coordinator P. Kanagaraj, featured the group’s 115th Oyilattam arangetram, its 18th Vallikummi arangetram and the 16th Kambattam arangetram. Each segment followed a formal sequence of rituals and cultural touchstones that set the tone for the performances.

Proceedings opened with prayers and a tribute to freedom fighters, followed by artist introductions and the recitation of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. Performers also observed a pledge before taking the stage, a practice organisers said reinforces the community and cultural values behind the programme.

Who trains and who performs

Sangamam Kalaikuzhu runs free training camps in villages across several districts — including Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and the Nilgiris — and schedules arangetrams once trainees complete their course. Kanagaraj said the troupe actively recruits locally and stages performances to offer a platform for rural talent.

Participants ranged widely in age: boys and girls as young as six performed alongside adults up to 60 years old. Men and women took part in a shared dress code for the troupe, though performances were presented strictly in traditional attire such as pavadai, davani, sari, veshti and angavastram.

• Location: North Kamatchiyamman Temple ground, Rakkiyapalayam, Tirupur district
• Organiser: Sangamam Kalaikuzhu (coordinator P. Kanagaraj)
• Key events: 115th Oyilattam, 18th Vallikummi, 16th Kambattam arangetrams
• Training footprint: Free village-level training in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, the Nilgiris and neighbouring districts
• Participants: Ages 6–60, from multiple religions and communities; growing female participation

Organisers emphasised that performances remain rooted in traditional presentation and costume, a commitment they say helps maintain authenticity as the forms are passed to younger generations. Attendees noted the visible rise in female performers, reflecting broader changes in rural cultural life.

Beyond spectacle, events like this serve several practical purposes: they preserve local choreography and music, provide informal arts education, and act as a social glue across villages. For communities in and around Tirupur, such arangetrams are increasingly important as both cultural heritage projects and opportunities for intergenerational engagement.