Ever heard of dance without musical instruments? - Kummi

A dance form which teaches us simplicity amidst the grandeur of Indian celebrations is Kummi, from Tamil Nadu. This folk art form originated in the prehistoric period, long before musical instruments were invented. The word "Kummi" comes from the Tamil word "Kommai" which means dancing with clapping hands. A group of women usually perform this. It involves basic dance steps and hand movements, the women clap their hands to the rhythm of the 'Kummi song', bend down, move forward, backward and continue in a repetitive dancing routine. It is usually performed during festivals of harvest like Pongal. They also form small groups to perform this during childbirths and Manjal Neeratu Vizhaa (a celebration when a young girl reaches puberty). Basically, it is performed during all joyful events to express their delight in a simple yet elegant way. Generally, only women perform this. But in some parts of Tamil Nadu, the men also join holding sticks. The men of the community form a large outer circle dancing with sticks and the women form a smaller inner circle. What attracts people here is the fact that the men and women dance matching each other's rhythm without any sophisticated musical instruments. There is no fixed costume here, women usually drape colourful Sarees, and young girls wear Dhavani. A main singer takes the lead in singing their favourite or most appropriate song for the occasion while the others dance only to the melodies singing, the sounds of the sticks and the clapping of hands. I feel this folk art really stands out because it is exceptionally minimalistic. It involves no fancy equipment, instruments or costumes, that's why I think Kummi teaches us to be satisfied with the little things in life. We should learn to acknowledge the small moments of joy amidst our busy 'civilised' lives. We are a globalised society now. Nobody can argue with the fact that there is a huge difference between us and our ancestors. But there is a chance, a choice we should now make to recognise and enjoy art forms like Kummi. Think about it, isn't it more beautiful to spend your weekend learning about an ancient art form rather than binging the same Netflix series?

- Chinmayi Shastry R