Chennai: Indigenous-cum-traditional music and percussion instruments used by ancient Tamils and martial arts equipment, including various forms of silambam used in war, presented by more than a 100 students of Govt Model School in Chennai and trainers of 38 model schools across the state took the centre stage at the students-artists confluence at Victoria Hall in the city on Saturday.Organised by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Housing Corporation (TAHDCO) in collaboration with the Greater Chennai Corporation and Artful Collective, the two-day event provided a platform for students and traditional artists to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage. Inaugurating the event, school education and Tamil development minister Rajmohan inspected more than 50 such equipment displayed by students and interacted with them.The cynosure of all eyes was ‘Chakrabanam’ — a tool made of colourful ropes and balls, creating the appearance of a circular flower when spun. Used for aesthetic purposes and improving the skills of practitioners during Silambam training, the tool helps Silambam practitioners develop abilities such as speed, hand-eye coordination, body control and precision. “Our ancestors had the right equipment not just for war, but for practising martial arts too. Anyone practising Silambam had to go through intense rounds of practice and perfect the Chakrabanam beforehand,” said K V Senthil, a student, who is taught traditional artforms, including silambam, at school.‘Vana Saatai’, an ancient whip; ‘Maduvu’, a defensive weapon made out of deer antlers; ‘Gadhayudham’, an ancient mace used for workouts and combat; and offensive spiral blades used in close-range combat such as ‘urumi’ and ‘karul vaal’ and ‘vaangi’ were among the other war items on display.“At one point in history, our civilization became disconnected with its own culture and heritage. The aim of such events is to bridge the disconnect and remind the population of its own history. Last year, we organised a similar event displaying such equipment. This year, we have students at the centre of it all as the change has to happen starting with them, ” TAHDCO managing director S Kandaswamy said.Hands-on workshops, offered by prominent artists including Padma Shri Velu Aasan, on puppetry, silambam and parai aatam will be open for the public upon registration at the event. Cultural performances, including musical shows, and a theatrical play on the lives of transpersons will be performed at the event.
