Notes

Vanakkam! Let me tell you a few things about the Tamil culture. Tamil culture is rooted in the arts and ways of life of Tamilians in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and across the globe. The Tamil language, one of the oldest languages known to mankind, has historically been, and is still to a large extent, central to the Tamil identity. Rich in diversity, the state boasts of a variety of folk dances like Parai, Karakaatam, Villupaatu and Koothu that add spice to the life of local inhabitants.
Lord Muruga, son of Lord Shiva, probably known to you as Karthikeya, is the chief deity of Tamils, and many of the cultural arts are dedicated to him. These traditional arts practiced by a location-specific group have been the source of livelihood for many who perform them during temple festivals or on any grand occasions. Ranging from the street dance therukoothu to the highly refined classical dance form Bharathanatyam, Tamil art forms have grown and developed for over two and a half millennia.