Karakattam is an ancient
folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. The
performers balance the water pot on their head very beautifully. Earlier it was
performed only with the accompaniment of the naiyandimelam, later it also
included songs. In the Karakattam, intricate steps and body/arm movements
decides the skill of performer. The pots are decorated in many ways with the
help of attractive flower arrangements, topped by a moving paper parrot. The
parrot rotates as the dancer takes swings along these looks beautiful. Some experts also dance standing over a plate
i.e. rim of the plate, filled with water, without spilling water out of the
plate while balancing the karakam on their head. Most expert artistes are from
the regions of Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Madurai,
Tirunelveli, and Pattukkottai and Salem,
Tamil Nadu. The movie KaragattaKaran
based on the folk dance was a great hit
mainly thanks to the melodies of Illaiyaraja – with song,
"Maanguyilae Poonguyile sethionnu kelu." blaring throughout the
State.
At Wimbledon, Serena flowed – she won in straight sets beating her less
experienced opponent Spaniard 6-4, 6-4. Muguruza was overcome with emotion
after losing to Williams in straight sets and was seen crying into her towel at
the side of the court. Speaking after
her win today, Williams, who last won Wimbledon in 2012, said it felt 'so good'
to have the trophy back in her hands.
The winning point game in the second set with Williams leading five
games to Muguruza's four. The crowd's reaction was delayed with even Williams
unsure whether she had won the point. The champion turned her head to her opponent
who is 12 years her junior, and said: 'Congratulations, please don't be sad.
'You'll be holding this trophy very, very soon, believe me.
After the hard work - Serena
Williams was in a playful mood balancing the Champion's Plate on her head - She balanced the plate on her head heading
back for the changing room. Serena
Williams has name engraved on Venus Rosewater Dish – meantime, Muguruza, the 21
year old, struggled to hold back tears
as she received her runner-up trophy. Joking about her relative inexperience on
grass, she joked: 'In Spain we don't have that much grass but I'm going to
change things now. The 21-year-old
opponent spoke of idolising the American as she climbed the ranks of junior
tennis.
Earlier, Serena Williams reached the finals of Wimbledon 2015 beating Maria Sharapova in straight sets on Centre Court. Dubbed 'The Serena Slam' by fans, she has achieved the feat once before in 2002-2003. The winner walked away with prize money of £1,880,000 while it was £940,000 for the runner. This is her 25th Grand Slam final and brings an end to her 15th Wimbledon tournament whereas it is Muguruza's first Grand Slam match. The 21-year-old is the first Spaniard to reach the Woman's Finals since 1996 when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario lost to Steffi Graff.
It you are wondering what ‘Venus Rosewater Dish’ is all about………….it
is the title - the Ladies' Singles
Trophy awarded at The Championships, Wimbledon, firstpresented to the Champion
in 1886. The 50 guineas trophy is an 18 3/4 inchdiameter, partially gilded,
sterling silver salver made in 1864 by MessrsElkington and Co. Ltd
ofBirmingham, and is a copy of an electrotype by CasparEnderlein from the
original in the Louvre. It is tradition for the winner to beawarded the trophy
by the President of the All England Lawn Tennis and CroquetClub, HRH the Duke
of Kent, and then walk a lap around the court to display thetrophy to the crowd
and photographers.
The winner does not keep the trophy,which remains in the museum at the
All-England club, but from 1949 to 2006 allChampions have received a miniature
replica of the trophy (diameter 8 inches),and from 2007 all Champions have
received a three-quarter replica of thetrophy, bearing the names of all past
Champions (diameter 14 inches).
If you are curious enough, the Gentleman who wins receives a silver
gilt cup18.5 inches (about 47 cm) in height and 7.5 inches (about 19 cm) in
diameter.The trophy has been awarded since 1887 and bears the inscription:
"All EnglandLawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the
World." The winners of theGentlemen's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed
Doubles events receive silvercups. The runner-up in each event receives an inscribed
silver plate.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
14th July 2o15
