The Draupadi Amman Mahabharata cycleTamil
The Mahabharata sung and enacted with Draupadi as the presiding deity rather than as a character — culminating in the fire-walk, in which vow-keepers cross a bed of embers after the war episode is performed.
Sung at: Up to eighteen consecutive nights before the goddess's temple, chiefly in Aadi. Concentrated in the villages of this plain, and carried by Tamil emigrants to Singapore, Malaysia, Réunion, Mauritius, South Africa and Fiji, where the same festival is kept.
Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai in MargazhiTamil
Andal's thirty verses calling her companions to a winter vow, and the Shaiva counterpart, sung walking through the streets in procession before first light. Thirty days, thirty verses, one a morning.
Sung at: Every morning before dawn through the month of Margazhi.
GaanaChennai Tamil
Death, drink, poverty, the neighbourhood and the joke at the end of it, improvised over a hand-beaten rhythm. The oldest layer is funeral song; the newest is written for film, and the two are sung by the same people.
Sung at: Funerals, wakes, and now anywhere.
OppariTamil
Improvised lament sung by women at the body, cataloguing the dead person's life and reproaching them for leaving.
Sung at: Death.
Kummi and kolattamTamil
Women's clapping and stick-circle songs, sung in the courtyard and, at Navaratri, in front of the doll display.
Sung at: Navaratri, Pongal, weddings.
Villuppattu of the Palar villagesTamil
Narrative bow song, carrying local hero and goddess stories, with the lead singer beating time on a strung bow and a chorus answering.
Sung at: Temple festivals.
Vallikkummi and Murugan vow songsTamil
Songs sung by kavadi-bearers on the walk to the temple, keeping the pace of the carried arch.
Sung at: Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram.