Karakattam
Karakaattam ( or ""karakam" ( 'water pot') dance") is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. The ancient Tamil epic says that this type of dance derived from Bharatham and a mixture of multiple forms of Tamil dance forms like "Bharatanatyam" postures and "mudras". The offering of this dance is to the goddess to bless rain. The dance accompanies songs like folk Carnatic ("Amrithavarshini"). The performers balance a pot on their head. Traditionally, this dance is categorized into two types: Aatta Karakam symbolizes joy and happiness. It is mainly performed as entertainment. Sakthi  Karakam is performed only in temples as a spiritual offering. "Karakkatam" invokes rain through a classical Tamil dance. The most common song employs "Amrithavarshini Ragam" ("Ragamalika"). Tamils believed that mother nature gives bountiful rain and protects the harvest. Attire. "Karakattam" is traditionally performed in a "saree." However, attire can vary as the main property is to have a "karakam" (Pot) on the head of the dancer. Common attire includes sarees or kurtha, colored towels and a pot. The current "karakattam" fashion appears to have been corrupted, probably due to lack of support with Bharatanatyam purists dismissing the art as non -traditional and low class, as it has been reduced to more of a night glamour art, with young girls in skimpy clothing preferred as the performers and the audience having drunkards who come only to ogle and tease them. The Madras High Court issued a directive to disallow alcohol consumption when attending "karakattam" performances and to not do performances which are "obscene and vulgar". In popular culture. In 1989, the Tamil movie Karagattakaran featured its lead actors Ramarajan, Kanaka and Kovai Sarala as performers of "karakattam". The movie went on to become very popular and an advertisement for the dance  form, especially because of the music by Ilaiyaraja and the song, "Maanguyilae Poonguyile" with its "karakattam" choreography. Apart from this, the devotional film Padai Veetu Amman released in 2001 had the lead actress Meena briefly performing "karakattam" dance in a festival song. Also, the 2002 Tamil film Sri Bannari Amman showed the central female devotee as a hereditary "karakattam" dancer. A song in the film featured "karakattam" dance.