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Veera Natyam is a popular dance form
prevalent in East and West Godavari, Kurnool,
Ananthapur,
Warangal and
Khammam
districts of Andhra
Pradesh.
Veeranatyam
dance form originally began as a ritual in honour of Lord Shiva and was
performed in all the Shaivite temples. Shiva's first wife Sati Devi, was
outraged and humiliated and Lord Shiva was angered at this and the dance
that he performed out of outrage is called 'Veeranatyam'.
The dance is performed with burning flames lit to the tridents and
spears. The tridents are then pierced into the bodies of the dancers. The
dance ends with a 'Mangala Harati' given to Lord Shiva by the flaming
tridents.
This vigorous dance is performed using the instruments like 'Thambura',
'Soolam', 'Dolu', 'Thasha' and 'Veeranam'. Now the ritual is transformed
into an art form and is widely performed in the processions.