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The daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, the queen of England famous for having been the first wife of Henry VIII, was in appearance petite, plump and blue-eyed, with red-gold hair that hung below her hips. She and her sister Joanna, queen of Castile and Aragon, were said to resemble their mother, whose hair colour was a mix of auburn and strawberry blonde. These looks were inherited from her English Royal ancestors, women like her great-grandmother and namesake, Catherine of Lancaster, and her great-great-grandmother, Philippa of Lancaster. Catherine most certainly did not resemble the actresses in some of the film portrayals, like Greek Irene Papas, a brunette with olive eyes and fiery temperament, or the dark-haired Maria Doyle Kennedy.Irene Papas, “Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)”:Maria Doyle Kennedy, ”The Tudors (2007)″:The princess known as Catalina in her native Spanish was born in the Archiepiscopal Palace of Alcalá de Henares 16 December 1485, the same palace where her mother Isabel la Católica held her first interview with Christopher Columbus on 20 January 1486. Catalina grew up in an entitled household, attended by slaves as well as servants. In 1491, a slave from the newly colonized Canary Islands served in baby Catalina’s household. Likewise, two slave girls accompanied Catalina on her maiden voyage to England.As daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Catherine had seen her parents expel the Jews from Granada in 1492 and had seen them fight the Moors.The princess was educated by a personal tutor, the renowned cleric Alessandro Gerladini, who taught her theology, philosophy, classical literature, history, genealogy, law and arithmetic. Catherine learned to speak Latin, French and Greek. Her practical education provided all the skills desired of a wife at the time, such as embroidery, dancing and music. Catherine used to sew Henry’s shirts, which she continued to do after she had been sent away.At the age of three, she was betrothed to Arthur, prince of Wales, son of the first king of the Tudor dynasty. For years, Catherine and Arthur, Prince of Wales, wrote letters to each other in Latin. Unfortunately, when they finally met in 1501, the young couple discovered they could not actually speak to each other. They had been taught different models of pronunciations.Prince Arthur By Unknown British School, 16th-century - Scanned from Tomas P. Campbell, Henry VIII and the Art of Majesty: Tapestries at the Tudor Court, Yale University Press, 2007, ISBN 9780300122343, Public Domain, File:Arthur Prince of Wales c 1500.jpga and possibly Catherine of Aragon c. 1502, by Michael Sittow. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna:Catherine married the prince on 14 November 1501, shortly before her sixteenth birthday. She was escorted by the groom’s younger brother, Henry. Catherine and Arthur’s wedding night was the only public royal bedding of the English in the 16th century. Of course, the ceremony did not include witnessing the consummation of the marriage. The next morning, the bridegroom emerged from the marriage chamber with a bawdy announcement which has been taken to have been a teenager’s well rehearsed account meant to impress his servant: “Willoughby, bring me a cup of ale, for I have been this night in the midst of Spain.” Then to all of the others present: “Masters, it is good pastime to have a wife.” On 2 April 1502, Prince Arthur died, possibly from sweating sickness.Henry VII requested that the young widow be betrothed to the future king, Henry, who was almost six years younger than the Spanish princess. The avaricious monarch did not want to return Catherine to Spain as her dowry would have to go with her. Betrothing Arthur’s widow to his brother required a papal dispensation. Catherine and her duenna, Elvira, wrote letters stating that the marriage had not been consummated and Pope Julius II granted the dispensation.The young king Henry VIII, circa 1509, artist unknown:Catherine had to wait for seven desolate years in virtual penury as the miserly Henry VII gave her scarcely the barest necessities. The Princess Dowager of Wales could not even pay her attendants and the Spanish ambassador had to provide her with food, clothing and other needs. Moreover, the death of Catherine's mother Isabella of Castile in 1504 meant that her "value" in the marriage market decreased. As a final humiliation, Henry VII later made his son repudiate the betrothal. Catherine managed to remain in England long enough for the king to die, whereupon the new monarch immediately married her, perhaps out of a sense of chivalry or duty. To marry his first wife, Henry broke off his engagement to Eleanor of Austria, daughter of Philip of Austria and Joanna of Castile, whose aunt happened to be Catherine herself. The marriage took place 11 June 1509 and was happy for many years, but eventually eroded with the deaths of all but one of the six children conceived by Catherine, a daughter, the future Queen Mary I.Eleanor of Austria, Catherine’s niece, by Joos van Cleve - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Public Domain, File:Joos van Cleve 003.jpg:In 1507, before Catherine married Henry, her father king Ferdinand II bestowed upon her the position of ambassador for the Spanish Court in England, making her the first female ambassador in European history.Catherine had a child who mysteriously vanished. In January 1510, she suffered her first of many miscarriages. Her stomach remained puffy, probably from infection, which caused her doctors to believe that she had been carrying twins and one had survived, this despite the fact that she was menstruating. Two months later, Catherine went into seclusion for the birth which, naturally, produced no baby.Catherine’s motto was “humble and loyal” and her emblem was a crowned pomegranate. The pomegranate, originally the heraldic symbol for the city of Granada, represents life, fertility and marriage. It is also a sign of Christ’s resurrection.A Crowned Pomegranate. Badges and Mottos of Henry VIII’s six wives:While king Henry was waging war in France, Catherine, who was pregnant at the time, was appointed regent of England, which gave her the power to make important decisions of state as Governor of the Realm and Captain General of the Force. On 9 September 1513 James IV and his Scottish troops crossed the border and challenged the English force, which was headed by Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, at Flodden in Northumberland. After about three hours of fighting, James IV was slain and the English army had defeated the Scots. Catherine wrote to Henry on 15 October, proud of the victory but disappointed that she could not send him the body of James IV, although she did send a piece of the Scottish king’s bloody surcoat and banner to her husband in France. Contrary to myth, Catherine did not take part in the battle, riding in armour against the Scots. She was travelling north but, as her biographer Giles Tremlett points out, she had only got as far as Buckingham when she received news of the English victory.Catherine took vows as a third order of Saint Francis as Queen of England. She integrated her duties as a Franciscan into her life in the royal court. After King Henry VIII had divorced her, Catherine said, “I would rather be a poor beggar’s wife and be sure of heaven, than queen of all the world and stand in doubt thereof by reason of my own consent.”Catherine was a supporter of the Renaissance, and great scholars like Erasmus of Rotterdam called her a friend. One of these men who stood beside her throughout her divorce experience was Saint Thomas More.The devout Catholic queen did not spend all her time praying. She loved music, dancing, playing cards, backgammon, dice, hunting and hawking. There were lavish masques and other court entertainments in which she participated. She dressed in extravagant style and wore priceless gems, which Henry later took away from her to give to Anne Boleyn. Henry surprised his wife in 1524 by dressing up as Robin Hood, accompanied by his men disguised as outlaws, and bursting in on his wife and her ladies in Catherine’s chambers. A surprised Catherine humoured her husband and threw an impromptu party. That must have been a very merry occasion.Henry VIII by unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist circa 1520 and Catherine by unknown artist circa 1520:Catherine of Aragon, by artist Lucas Horenbout (or Hornebolte), circa 1525, National Portrait Gallery, London:In 1533 her marriage was declared invalid by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by order of the King she was to return to her title of Princess Dowager of Wales, the widow of Prince Arthur. Catherine lived in exile, isolated from her daughter and friends. She never saw Henry again after being sent off. After years of desolation, pain and misery, Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle on 7 January 1536, three weeks after her fiftieth birthday. Her marriage to Henry had lasted for 23 years, 11 months and 19 days, the longest by far of his six unions. Her last letter was a love letter to the king, ending with these words: “Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Katharine the Quene.” It is not known whether Henry read it but he is reported to have been happy at her death. She was buried at Peterborough Abbey with all the ceremony befitting the widow of the prince of Wales. The king did not attend and did not permit Mary to be at her mother’s funeral.It was rumoured by some that she had been poisoned. An autopsy was performed and the chandler found that the heart had “a black growth all hideous to behold,” believed today to be related to the cancer secondary melanotic sarcoma.Catherine’s tomb in Peterborough Cathedral is open to the public. Pomegranates are sometimes laid upon it, as pomegranates were Catherine’s Trastámara family sigil and her personal badge. Over her grave are inscribed the words: “Katharine Queen of England.”Photo by Clare Hancock:

From the Salem witch trials to the bombing of Hiroshima, history is full of dates that shook the world and continue, decades and centuries later, to astound. Using eyewitness testimony – letters, diaries and archive interviews – the BBC oral history radio and TV programme Witness retells these watershed moments.In fact, we need to round up 11 of the most shocking facts, out them, the execution of Anne Boleyn shocked me most.On the morning of 19 May 1536, Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, became the first English queen to be publicly executed. Charged with adultery, incest and conspiring the king’s death, Anne was beheaded on a scaffold erected on Tower Green, within the walls of the Tower of London. Her death, says historian Suzannah Lipscomb, “is so familiar to us that it is hard to imagine how shocking it would have been”.Anne Boleyn- Biographical InformationAnne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII. Her marriage to him lasted for three years until he had her beheaded in favour of a new wife. They originally courted each other for over five years while he was married to Catherine of Aragon, while she was his wife's Lady-in-Waiting. During their courtship, he stayed exclusively loyal to her and never took another mistress or went back to his wife. She is the mother of his second daughter, Elizabeth Tudor.AppearanceAnne had been of average height and she had a slender build with long straight and thick black or dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, a considerably strong nose, a definite wide mouth with slim lips, and an olive complexion. She was considered to be brilliant, charming, driven, elegant, forthright, and graceful with a keen wit and a lively, opinionated, and passionate personality. Anne enjoyed cards and dice games, drinking wine, eating French cuisine, flirting, gambling, gossiping, and hearing a good joke. She was fond of archery, falconry, hunting, and the occasional game of bowls. Yet Anne also had a sharp tongue and a terrible temper, but exerted a powerful charm on those who met her.PersonalityPeople seemed primarily attracted by Anne's charisma. She made a good impression with her fashion sense, inspiring many new trends amongst the court ladies. As queen, she understood the importance of ostentatious display, as befitting a Renaissance monarch; a notion emphasized even more by her daughter Elizabeth I. William Forrest, author of a contemporary poem about Katherine of Aragon, complimented Anne's "passing excellent" skill as a dancer. "Here," he wrote, "was [a] fresh young damsel, that could trip and go."In The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Alison Weir writes: “Anne’s charm lay not so much in her physical appearance as in her vivacious personality, her gracefulness, her quick wit and other accomplishments. She was petite in stature, and had an appealing fragility about her… she shone at singing, making music, dancing and conversation… Not surprisingly, the young men of the court swarmed round her.”She was a devout Christian in the new tradition of Renaissance Humanism, determined to reform the Catholic Church and purge it of superstition and abuse. She also gave generously to charity and sewed shirts for the poor. In her youth she was "sweet and cheerful" and enjoyed gambling, drinking wine, and gossiping. She was also fearless, determined, charming, ambitious, politically astute, highly intelligent and intellectually driven. However, under stressful circumstances, Anne could be sharp tempered, verbally aggressive and sharp tongued. Her daughter certainly exhibited a distinctly similar temperament.Early LifeAnne was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard. Thomas Boleyn was a well respected diplomat and a favourite of King Henry VII.. Anne and her siblings grew up at Hever Castle in Kent. A lack of parish records from the period has made it impossible to establish Anne's date of birth.At the time of Anne's birth, the Boleyn family was considered one of the most respected in the English aristocracy. Her early education was typical for women of her class. When she was little, she was invited to join the schoolroom of Margaret of Austria and her four wards. Her academic education was limited to arithmetic, her family genealogy, grammar, history, reading, spelling, and writing. She developed domestic skills such as dancing, embroidery, good manners, household management, music, needlework, and singing. Anne learned to play cards, chess, and dice. She was also taught archery, falconry, horseback riding, and hunting.Time in FranceHer Father's charm won the admirers of Margaret of Austria, who ruled the Netherlands on her nephew Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor's behalf. She was so impressed with him she offered Anne a place in her household. Ordinarily, a girl had to be twelve years old to have such an honour, but Anne may have been younger. Anne made a good impression in the Netherlands with her manners and studiousness, Margaret reported that she was well spoken and pleasant for her young age. Anne stayed with Margaret from spring 1513 until her father arranged for her to attend Henry VIII's sister Mary, who was about to marry Louis XII of France the following year.In France, Anne was a maid of honour to Queen Mary, and then to Mary's 15-year-old stepdaughter Queen Claude, with whom she stayed nearly seven years. In the Queen's household, she completed her study of French and developed interests in art, fashion, illuminated manuscripts, literature, music, poetry,and religious philosophy. She also acquired knowledge of French culture, dance, etiquette, literature, music, and poetry and came to gain experience in flirtation and the game of courtly love. Anne's education in France proved itself in later years, inspiring many new trends among the ladies and courtiers of England.Anne's experience in France made her a devout Christian in the new tradition of Renaissance humanism. Anne's European education ended in 1521, when her father summoned her back to England. She sailed from Calais in at the start of 1522.Return from FranceAnne was recalled to marry her Irish cousin, James Butler, in an attempt to settle a dispute over the title and estates. Her father spoke to King Henry about the matter, Henry fearful the dispute could be the spark of a civil war in Ireland, sought to resolve the matter by arranging an alliance using their children James, and Anne Boleyn. The plan ended in failure, because her father hoped for a grander marriage for his daughter, or because he himself coveted the titles. Whatever the reason, the marriage negotiations came to a complete halt.Mary Boleyn, Anne's older sister, had earlier been recalled from France in late 1519, for her affairs with the French king. She married William Carey, with Henry VIII in attendance; soon after, Mary Boleyn became the English King's mistress. Historians dispute King Henry VIII's paternity of one or both of Mary Boleyn's children born during this marriage.Anne made her début at the Chateau Vert (Green Castle) pageant and took part in an elaborate dance accompanying Henry's younger sister Mary, several other ladies of the court, and her sister. All wore gowns of white satin embroidered with gold thread. She quickly established herself as one of the most stylish and accomplished women at the court, and soon a number of young men were competing for her.Anne was courted by Henry Percy, and entered into a secret betrothal with him. The romance was broken off when Percy's father refused to support their engagement. Anne was sent from court to her family's countryside estates, and upon her return to court, she again entered the service of Catherine of Aragon.Courtship with King Henry VIIIAllegedly Anne resisted the King's attempts to seduce her, refusing to become his mistress, often leaving court for the seclusion of Hever Castle. But within a year, he proposed marriage to her, and she accepted. Both assumed an annulment could be obtained within a matter of months. There is no evidence to suggest that they engaged in a sexual relationship until very shortly before their marriage; Henry's love letters to Anne seem to suggest that their love affair remained unconsummated for much of their seven-year courtship.It is probable that the idea of annulment had suggested itself to Henry much earlier than this and was motivated by his desire for an heir to secure the legitimacy of the Tudor claim to the crown. He and Catherine of Aragon. had no living sons: all except Mary died in infancy. Catherine had first come to England to be bride to Henry's brother Arthur who died soon after their marriage. Since Spain and England still wanted an alliance, a dispensation was granted by Pope Julius II on the grounds that Catherine was still a virgin. Eventually Henry became dubious about its validity, due to Catherine's inability to provide an heir being seen as a sign of God's displeasure. His feelings for Anne, and her refusals to become his mistress, probably contributed to Henry's decision that no Pope had a right to overrule the Bible. This meant that he had been living in sin with Catherine of Aragon all these years, though Catherine hotly contested this and refused to concede that her marriage to Arthur had been consummated. It also meant that his daughter Mary was a bastard, and that the new Pope Clement VII would have to admit the previous Pope's mistake and annul the marriage.Anne determined she would yield to his embraces only as his acknowledged queen. She began to take her place at his side in policy and in state, but not yet in his bed. In 1528, sweating sickness broke out with great severity. In London the mortality rate was high. Henry left London, frequently changing his residence; Anne retreated to Hever Castle, but contracted the illness; her brother-in-law, William Carey, died. Henry sent his own physician to Hever Castle to care for Anne, and shortly afterwards she recovered.Pope Clement VII was at that time, prisoner of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, as a result of the Sack of Rome in May 1527, where Catherine de' Medici was being held prisioner. The Pope was still a veritable hostage of Charles V, and Charles V was the loyal nephew of Henry's Queen, Catherine. The Pope forbade Henry to contract a new marriage until a decision was reached in Rome, not in England. A year later in 1531 (two full years before Henry's marriage to Anne), Queen Catherine was banished from court and her rooms were given to Anne.Public support remained with Queen Catherine. In 1532, Thomas Cromwell brought before Parliament the Supplication Act, which recognised royal supremacy over the church, thus finalising the break with Rome.Even before her marriage, Anne Boleyn was able to grant petitions, receive diplomats, give patronage and had enormous influence over her future husband to plead the cause of foreign diplomats. It was essential to have her approval if one wanted to influence the English government.During this period, Anne Boleyn played an important role in England's international position by solidifying an alliance with France. She established an excellent rapport with the French ambassador. Anne and Henry attended a meeting with the French king at Calais in winter 1532, in which Henry hoped to enlist the support of Francis I of France for his intended marriage. On 1 September 1532, Henry granted her suo jure the Marquessate of Pembroke, an appropriate peerage for a future queen; as such she became a rich and important woman: the three dukes and two marquesses who existed in 1532 and she ranked above them all.Anne's family also profited from the relationship. At the magnificent banquet to celebrate her father's elevation, Anne took precedence over the Duchesses of Suffolk and Norfolk, beside the King which was usually occupied by the Queen. Thanks to Anne's intervention, her widowed sister Mary Boleyn received an annual pension of £100, and her son Henry Carey was educated at a prestigious Cistercian monastery.Queen of EnglandSoon after returning to Dover, Henry and Anne married in a secret ceremony. She soon became pregnant and to legalise the first wedding there was a second wedding service, which took place in London on 25 January 1533.Catherine of Aragon was formally stripped of her title as queen and Anne was consequently crowned queen 1 June in a magnificent ceremony at Westminster Abbey with a banquet afterwards. She was the last queen consort of England to be crowned separately from her husband. On the previous day, Anne had taken part in an elaborate procession through the streets of London seated in a litter of "white cloth of gold."Pope Clement VII condemned the marriage to Anne, and in March 1534, he declared the marriage to Catherine legal and again ordered Henry to return to her. Henry now required his subjects to swear the oath attached to the First Succession Act, and recognised Anne Boleyn as queen. Those who refused, were then placed in The Tower of London. In late 1534 parliament declared Henry "the only supreme head on Earth of the Church of England". The Church in England was now under Henry's control, not Rome's.After her coronation, Anne settled into a quiet routine at the King's favourite residence, Greenwich Palace, to prepare for the birth of her baby. The child was born slightly prematurely on 7 September 1533 who was christened Elizabeth, in honour of both their mothers. But the birth of a girl was a heavy blow to her parents, since they had confidently expected a boy. The French king had already been asked to stand as his godfather. Now the prepared letters announcing the birth of a prince had an s hastily added and the traditional tournament for the birth of an heir was cancelled.Elizabeth was given a splendid christening, but Anne feared that Catherine's daughter, Mary, now stripped of her title of princess and labelled a bastard, posed a threat to Elizabeth's position. Henry soothed his wife's fears by separating Mary from her many servants and sending her to Hatfield House, where Princess Elizabeth would be living with her own sizeable staff of servants, and where the country air was thought better for the baby's health. Anne frequently visited her daughter at Hatfield and other residences.The new queen had a larger staff than Catherine's. She had over 250 servants, everyone from priests to stable-boys. There were over 60 maids-of-honour that would accompanied her to social events, and employed several priests who acted as her confessors, chaplains, and religious advisers. One Matthew Parker, become chief architects of Anglican during Queen's Elizabeth's reign.The king and his new queen enjoyed a reasonably happy accord with periods of calm and affection. Anne Boleyn's sharp intelligence, political acumen and forward manners, although desirable in a mistress, were, at the time, unacceptable in a wife. She was once reported to have spoken to her uncle in words that "shouldn't be used to a dog". After a stillbirth or miscarriage as early as Christmas 1534, Henry was discussing the possibility of divorcing her without having to return to Catherine. Nothing came of the issue as the royal couple reconciled and spent summer 1535 on progress. By October, she was again pregnant.Anne Boleyn presided over a magnificent court. She spent lavish amounts of money on gowns, jewels, head-dresses, ostrich-feather fans, riding equipment, and more, maintaining the ostentatious display required by her status. Her motto was "The most happy". Anne was blamed for her husband's government and was referred to by some as "The king's whore". Public opinion turned further against her following her failure to produce a son.On 8 January 1536, news of Catherine of Aragon's death reached the King and Anne, who were overjoyed.The following day, Henry and Anne wore yellow, the symbol of joy and celebration in England, from head to toe, and celebrated Catherine's death with festivities.The Queen, pregnant again, was aware of the dangers if she failed to give birth to a son. With Catherine dead, Henry would be free to marry without any taint of illegality. At this time Henry began paying court to Jane Seymour. He gave her a locket with a miniature portrait of himself inside and Jane, in the presence of Anne, began opening and shutting it. Anne responded by ripping off the locket with such force her fingers bled.Later that month, the King was unhorsed in a tournament and knocked unconscious for two hours, a worrying incident that Anne believed led to her miscarriage five days later. Another possibility for the miscarriage was an incident in which upon entering a room, Anne saw Jane Seymour sitting on the lap of Henry. After flying into a rage. Whatever the cause, on Catherine of Aragon's burial, Anne miscarried and "seemed to be a male child". This loss was the beginning of the end of the royal marriage.Given Henry's desperate desire for a son, the sequence of Anne's pregnancies has attracted much interest. As Anne recovered from her miscarriage, Henry declared that he had been seduced into the marriage by means of "spells". His new mistress, Jane Seymour, was quickly moved into royal quarters.It was a royal union that changed England forever. The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn followed years of legal wrangling by the king which led to a religious revolution and an international controversy. When they said ‘I do’, they did so in secret but five centuries on, the question remains – how many clandestine ceremonies did Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn take part in?Their union was declared valid on May 28th 1533 at a special court held at Dunstable Priory by Thomas Cranmer, who had been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury not long before. But this wasn’t their wedding day. The couple had exchanged vows in secret at least four months earlier when Henry didn’t even know if he was allowed to get married to Anne.Towards the end of April men in Anne's service were being arrested. They initially denied being the Queen's lover one later confessed, under tortured or promised freedom, the rest, even under torture plead innocent. The final accused was Queen Anne's own brother, George Boleyn, arrested on charges of incest and treason, and found guilty. On 2 May 1536, Anne was arrested and taken to The Tower of London In the Tower, she collapsed, demanding to know the location of her father and brother, as well as the charges against her.3 days later, Anne and George Boleyn were tried separately in the Tower of London, before a jury of 27 peers. She was accused of adultery, incest, and high treason. The other form of treason alleged against her was that of plotting the king's death, with her "lovers", so that she might later marry Henry Norris. Anne was found guilty. On 14 May, Cranmer declared Anne's marriage to Henry null and void.DeathAlthough the evidence against them was unconvincing, the accused were found guilty and condemned to death. George Boleyn and the other accused men were executed on 17 May 1536. Henry commuted Anne's sentence from burning to beheading, and rather than have a queen beheaded with the common axe, he brought an expert swordsman from Saint-Omer in France, to perform the execution.Shortly before dawn, she called William Kingston to hear mass with her, and swore in his presence, on the eternal salvation of her soul, upon the Holy Sacraments, that she had never been unfaithful to the king.On the morning of Friday 19 May, Anne Boleyn was executed. She wore a red petticoat under a loose, dark grey gown of damask trimmed in fur and a mantle of ermine. Accompanied by two female attendants, Anne climbed the scaffold and made a short speech to the crowd: “ Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.”Anne BoleynAnne lifted off her headdress, tucking her hair under a coif. After a brief farewell to her weeping ladies and a request for prayers, she kneeled down and one of her ladies tied a blindfold over her eyes. She knelt upright, in the French style of executions.The execution consisted of a single stroke. Before doing so he asked Anne for her forgiveness, and she graciously agreed. She was then buried in an unmarked grave in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Her skeleton was identified during the reign of Queen Victoria, and Anne's resting place is now marked in the marble floor.

It is a very long answer. I have extensively taken the material from Wikipedia and Maps of India to prove my point.The Dravidian parties have not encouraged or nurtured the folk arts of Tamil Nadu. More particularly, Bharatha Natyam and Carnatic Music because these two forms have been patronised by Brahmins. Another factor is that Dravidians are devoid of cultural sensibilities and that is the reason that people have fallen back on Cinema. This mass medium has been over used by the Dravidian parties to brain wash the mind set of Tamilians and also to make their message reach the masses.So now we are in such a sorry state of affairs that nexus between politicians and cinnema actors is merging into one. We are now on the threshold of actors becoming politicians . In no other Southern states actors have become CMs. Andhra being one exception.Read carefully how the other three states have developed and preserved their culture. You will get the answer to your question.The Dravidian parties have done precious little to keep the folk arts of Tamilnadu flying high.Folk arts of KarnatakaKarnataka has a variety of folk arts, including folk dance and puppetry.Yakshagana, folk theater of Karnataka.Various styles of traditional drums are used in folk music, dance and theater of KarnatakaKunitha: a ritual danceKodaguMysore regionNorth KarnatakaDakshina KannadaArts common to most regionsHagalu veshagaararFolk artist applying character makeup.This is a group of itinerant actors in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh who specialise in unscripted miming; no stage or facility is used. The artists move from place to place, pitching tents and offering to perform. They play a variety of mythological, legendary and real characters. Performances draw from daily life, and sometimes full-length plays are staged. They perform vachana sahityas by Sarvagna, Basavanna and others.The harmonium, the tabla-dagga and a pair of cymbals provide melody and rhythm. For their performances, staged in village squares and fairs, the actors receive food collected in a bag by an assistant accompanying the troupe. Most hagalu veshagaararus belong to the Veerashaiva tradition, while some are Muslims. Sometimes they are addressed as jyaatigaararu ("belonging to the Muslim community"). They are also known as suDugaaDu siddha ("monks of the cemetery") or bahuroopi ("having many disguises").As their name suggests, they perform primarily during the day (hagalu) and only men take part (including female roles). While entertainment is the main objective, the hagalu veshagararu also educate villagers about mythology and social issues with their performances.Goravara kunita.Goravara kunita is a dance worshipping Shiva which is popular in the Mysore and North Karnataka regions. In North Karnataka the Goravas worship Mylaralinga. In South Karnataka the Goravas wear black-and-white woollen garments and a black-bear-fur cap (of black bear), and play the damaru and the pillangoovi (flute). In North Karnataka the Goravas wear black woollen garments and a leather shoulder bag; some wear a black coat and white dhoti. The dancers rub crimson powder and vibhooti (sacred ash) on their foreheads. Traditional Gorava devotees dance in a trance, sometimes barking like dogs. The dancers move in a clockwise zigzag, with no fixed choreography. The North Karnataka Goravas wear yellow powder on their foreheads and give Prasad to devotees. Damaru, venu, small bronze bells and cowbells (paarigante) are played. The dance consists of trance-like movements with no fixed choreography.Nagamandala.Main article: NagaradhaneThis ritual dance is performed in south Karnataka to tranquilize the serpent spirit, and is an extravagant night-long affair. The dancers (Vaidyas) dance all night around a huge figure, drawn on the ground in natural colors, in a pandal in front of the shrine. The dance is generally performed between December and April.KaragaThe karaga, in a dance performed by the Thigalas, is a metal pot on which stands a tall, floral pyramid and which is balanced on the carrier's head. The contents of the pot are secret. The carrier's arrival is heralded by hundreds of bare-chested, dhoti-clad, turbaned Veerakumaras with unsheathed swords.Gaarudi GombeMain article: Gaarudi GombeGaarudi Gombe is a folk dance in which dancers dress in suits made of bamboosticks. Gaarudi-Gombe means "magical puppet" in Kannada. The dance is performed during major festivals and in the procession held during the Mysore Dasara, and is known as Tattiraya in the coastal regions. Tattirayameans "someone carrying a doll made of bamboo sticks"The dance features masks, puppets and colourful regional costumes. The puppets are made from bamboo and papier mâché, painted with suitable makeup. During the fair and festival procession to the temple, the giant dolls are the central attraction to spectators. The dolls are hollow and permit a person to get inside, carry the structure on his shoulders and dance, while being able to see. The dolls are used for fun and to ward off evil spirits, depicting characters from Indian mythology and folklore. The dance is performed to the tamate and dholu (a percussion instrument). Each doll weighs 10 to 12 kilograms (22 to 26 pounds), and stand 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 metres) tall. During the procession, some performers wear character masks and interact with the dolls. Itinerant performers dressed as a tiger (hulivesha) or bear (karadi-vesha) with dancing monkeys are common in South India.Joodu HaligiThe Joodu Haligi is performed with two percussion instruments. The Haligi is round, made of buffalo hide and played with a short stick. The dance is characterised by high energy and exaggerated expressions by two or three performers.Puppetry.Main article: Togalu GombeyaataTogalu Gombeyaata is a type of shadow puppetry unique to Karnataka]; its name means "a play with leather dolls" in Kannada.The Karnataka Chitrakala Parishathas researched this art form, and has an extensive collection of leather puppets.Veeragaase danceEditMain article: VeeragaseVeeragase, a vigorous dance based on Hindu mythology, is one of the dances performed at the Mysore Dasara. It is primarily performed during the Hindu months of Shravana and Karthika.Culture of KeralaPosition of Kerala in IndiaTemple Procession in KanhangadThe culture of Kerala is a synthesis of Aryanand Dravidian cultures, developed and mixed for centuries, under influences from other parts of India and abroad.It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people.Modern Kerala society took shape owing to migrations from different parts of India and abroad throughout Classical Antiquity.Kerala traces its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom — a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. At that time, the music, dance, language (first Dravida Bhasha — "Dravidian language— then Tamil), and Sangam (a vast corpus of Tamil literature composed between 1,500–2,000 years ago) found in Kerala were all similar to that found in the rest of Thamizhagom(today's Tamil Nadu). The culture of Kerala evolved through the Sanskritization of Dravidian ethos, revivalism of religious movements and reform movements against caste discrimination.Kerala showcases a culture unique to itself developed through accommodation, acculturation and assimilation of various faculties of civilized lifestyle.Performing artsEditThirayattam -( Bagavathi vellattu )Main article: Arts of KeralaNative traditions of classical performing artsinclude koodiyattom, a form of Sanskrit dramaor theatre and a UNESCO-designated Human Heritage Art. Kathakali (from katerumbu("story") and kali ("performance")) is a 500-year-old form of dance-drama that interprets ancient epics; a popularized offshoot of kathakali is Kerala natanam (developed in the 20th century by dancer Guru Gopinath). Meanwhile, koothu is a more light-hearted performance mode, akin to modern stand-up comedy; an ancient art originally confined to temple sanctuaries, it was later popularized by Mani Madhava Chakyar. Other Keralite performing arts include mohiniyaattam("dance of the enchantress"), which is a type of graceful choreographed dance performed by women and accompanied by musical vocalizations. Thullal, Thirayattam, padayani, and theyyam are other important Keralite performing arts.Thirayattam is one of the most outstanding Ethnic art of kerala. This vibrant ritualistic annual performing art form enacted in courtyards of "Kaavukal"(sacred groves) and village shrine.Kerala also has several tribal and folk art forms. For example, Kummattikali is the famous colorful mask-dance of South Malabar, performed during the festival of Onam. The Kannyar Kali dances (also known as Desathukali) are fast moving, militant dances attuned to rhythmic devotional folk songs and asuravadyas. Also important are various performance genres that are Islam- or Christianity-themed. These include oppana, which is widely popular among Keralite Muslims and is native to Malabar. Oppanaincorporates group dance accompanied by the beat of rhythmic hand clapping and ishalvocalizations.Margam Kali is one of the ancient round group dance of Kerala practiced by Saint Thomas Christians.However, many of these native art forms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among ordinary Keralites. Thus, more contemporary forms — including those heavily based on the use of often risqué and politically incorrect mimicryand parody — have gained considerable mass appeal in recent years.MusicMain article: Music of Kerala.The ragas and talas of lyrical and devotional Carnatic music — another native product of South India — dominates Keralite classical musical genres. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, a 19th-century king of Travancore and patron and composer of music, was instrumental in popularising carnatic music in early Kerala.Additionally, Kerala has its own native music system, sopanam, which is a lugubrious and step-by-step rendition of raga-based songs. It is Sopanam, for example, that provides the background music used in Kathakali. The wider traditional music of Kerala also includes melam (including the paandi and panchari variants), as style of percussive music performed at temple-centered festivals using an instrument known as the chenda. Up to 150 musicians may comprise the ensembles staging a given performance; each performance, in turn, may last up to four hours. Panchavadyam is a differing type of percussion ensemble consisting of five types of percussion instruments; these can be utilised by up to one hundred artists in certain major festivals. In addition to these, percussive music is also associated with various uniquely Keralite folk arts forms. Lastly, the popular music of Kerala — as in the rest of India — is dominated by the filmi music of Indian cinema. The most remembered name in kerala music culture is of Great Indian musician Sri K. J. Yesudas.ⓘ Optimized 3 hours agoArts and Crafts of Andhra PradeshIndian arts and crafts have made a distinction for themselves all over the world. These ancient skills have been learned and acquired by craftsmen from their forefathers and today it unfolds itself in a splendid variety of products, combining aesthetic appeal with utilitarian value. Each region of India marvels in handicrafts portraying the genius of its local craftsmen. Andhra Pradesh in the south has patronized itself in a host of arts and crafts that not only attract millions but earn the artisans a decent livelihood. The various forms of arts and crafts are aristocratic to this state and are not found anywhere else in India.KondapalliIf any of the several head turning art and crafts of Andhra Pradesh is same popular with the adults and the children, it is the Kondapalli dolls. The Kondapalli dolls of Andhra Pradesh are light weighted wooden dolls, which come from a small village called Kondapalli in the vicinity of Vijayawada. The dolls are so adorable yet warm and realistic. The faces of the figures are extremely expressive and the subjects are taken from our life. Soft Poniki wood is used to create these dolls and toys, which depicts everyday scenes, figures of deities, animals, birds and mythological characters.The Kondapalli dolls are mainly based on village life, its incidents and characters. The popularity of this fantastic craft work has reached the foreign shores also, the main reason being its flexibility. The process of making these dolls and toys commence with the seasoning of the wood. Carvings are done separately on independent units, which are then joined to the body. An adhesive paste of tamarind seeds is used for the pasting purpose further coated with lime glue. Then the painting is done with special brushes made with goat's hair. The entire process is long enough and the artisans carry on with the work very patiently. Some of the toys and dolls are also made of a mixture of sawdust, cow dung and clay. The Kondapalli dolls is one such item, that you will readily agree to your children's request to buy it for them.Decorative hand crocheted laceThe Decorative hand-crocheted lace work of Andhra Pradesh is a kind of handicraft, which is one of the most contemporary handicrafts of the state. This type of decorative art is prominent in the Narsapur and Palakollu of West Godavari district. The Decorative hand-crocheted lace work is widely used to design dining mats. It is also used to beautify bedsheets, pillow covers, telephone covers, wall hangings, tea cozy, dressing table mats and curtains.The popular Decorative hand-crocheted lace work of Andhra Pradesh are made with slender threads woven with the help of stainless steel crochet needles, which comes in different sizes. This form of craft work was brought in by a Scottish couple and their contributions have inspired thousands of women in Narsapur and Palakollu regions. Today the number of artisans involved in Decorative hand-crocheted lace manufacturing has touched 1,25,000 of which most are women. The exquisite lace works come in vibrant colors like green, pink and mustard. However white and beige are the most commonly used color. Round, oval, square, oblong or rectangle - the lace works are found in various shapes. Frocks, waist coats, skirts, dupattas and other garments adorned with the lace works are a big hit with the young brigade. You just can not resist the attraction of the Decorative hand-crocheted lace work of Andhra Pradesh and you will see yourself buying at least one of the excellent examples of the beautiful craft work.Banjara EmbroideryThe Kuchipudi dance originated in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It derived its name from its originating place, the village called Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram. The dance form is known for its grace, elegance and beauty. Around 300 B. C., it developed and from then the art form is continuously evolving and has become the living tradition of the region. During its birth it was performed by the male members of the Brahmin community.Kuchipudi is a perfect blend of music and abhinaya. The dance form of Kuchipudi is accompanied by musical instruments like Mridangam, Manjira (Thalam), Vina, Violin, Kanjira, Surpeti, Venu and Tanpura. While performing the Kuchipudi dancers use quick rhythmical footwork and artistic body movements. It is accompanied by Carnatic music which add to its beauty. They perform using stylistic hand gestures and body movements including vivid expressions and with more realistic acting. At times the dancers even speak dialogue to give it a dramatic effect.The themes of Kuchipudi dance are largely derived from Indian scriptures and mythology. Some of the mythological characters are very famous like Satyabhama, second wife of Lord Krishna. Another distinctive feature of Kuchipudi is the Tarangam. In it the dancer performes by balancing on the edges of a brass plate. The dancer carries out elaborated rhythmic forms with extreme dexterity. At times they even balance a pot of water on their head. The three aspects of dance- Nritta, Nritya and Natya, has been appropriately blended in Kuchipudi.Kalamkari PaintingsOut of the many beautiful forms of handicrafts, the Kalamkari in Andhra Pradesh has always been favorite with the art and craft lovers. The Kalamkari craft of Andhra Pradesh involves the art of printing and painting of fabrics. This is a rare kind of art, which uses a Kalam or quill, from which it has earned its name and also vegetable dyes. It is exclusively found in the Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti areas of the state. However the areas have distinct styles of their own. While artists in Machilipatnam use designs carved in wooden blocks for printing, the Srikalahasti style uses the wax process to fill in the colors after drawing the outlines with the quill.All the colors and dyes, which are used in the Kalamkari craft style are made of natural products. The printing process of Kalamkari is very delicate and time taking as it involves not less than twelve different stages. Kalamkari is mostly used in wall decorations and clothes. It is highly inspired by the Persian patterns and motifs. The art form of Kalamkari usually showcases mythological figures and stories. Stories of the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Shiv Puranas are also depicted on the fabrics. The origin of Kalamkari dates back to the 10th century when it was derived as the result of trade relations between the Indian and Persian merchants. Kalamkari is one of the most traditional Indian handicrafts and you should not miss to bring home a 'piece' of this tradition in your next Andhra Pradesh visit.Butta BommaluButta Bommalu is a popular dance form in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the foster child of the West and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The name Butta Bommalu literally means puppets made in the form of basket. Butta Bommalu or the basket puppets are made out of thin bamboo strips. These strips are woven into the shape of long spherical basket figures.The performer of Butta Bommalu gets into the huge, hollow figure, the puppet. The performance starts with the dancer moving to the rhythm of four dappus, a musical instrument. It is generally performed in the open space. The puppet-figure is about eight feet tall and it has a radius of three feet. The figure is hollow at the bottom it is from there that the performer gets into the puppet. The puppet is tied down to the performer's waist and shoulders.Being made out of bamboo strips, the figures are very light. It becomes very easy for the performer to carry the figure easily. A paste of tamarind seeds is applied on the structure made of bamboo strips. Then, different bright colors are used to make the puppets look attractive.In this incredible form of puppet dance, the puppets are adorned with appropriate costumes. Highlights in any religious procession, these huge dancing figures are a special attraction in the festivities in Andhra Pradesh.The figures resemble different legendary heroes, the most popular of them being Rama, Hanumana, Satyabhama, Shakti, Krishna etc. It also depends on the festival during which Butta Bommalu is performed.LambadiAndhra Pradesh occupies an eminent place in the classical dance forms of India. Apart from the classical dances, it is also known for its tribal dances. Some of the popular tribal folk dances of Andhra Pradesh are Bathakamma, Gobbi, Mathuri, Dhamal, Dandaria, Dappu, Vadhyam etc. Lambadi dance is a tribal dance of Andhra Pradesh.Lambadi is related to the Lambadi tribe, who lead a semi-nomadic life in Andhra Pradesh. The Lambadi tribe lives all over the state. They are popularly known as Banjaras or Sugalis. The dancers perform this dance to rejoice an abundant harvest or a good sowing season. They dress themselves in brass anklets, bangles, embellished jewelry and glass beads. The day to day tasks of a farmer, like reaping, harvesting, planting, sowing etc. are represented in the Lambadi Dance. During the festivals like Dussehra, Deepavali and Holi these tribal people move from one house to another dancing and receiving alms.The Lambadi dancers dress up in gaudy dresses by wearing long colorful skirts decorated with mirrors and white broad bone bracelets covering their arms. An interesting fact about the dance form is that it is monopolized by women. It is permeated with fervent grace and lyricism. The subtle sensuality of the dancers make it more appealing. The rhythm and the coordination among the dancers is worth mentioning.BidriThe complicated and the very beautiful Bidriware was developed during the gothic times. Bidriware was originated in the 14th century C.E., during the reign of the Bahamani Sultans. The term 'Bidriware' arises from the township of Bidar, which is still the head centre for the manufacture of the antique metal work. Bidriware is an important export handicraft of India and is seen as a symbol of wealth because of its striking inlay artwork. The origin of Bidriware is usually ascribed to the Bahamani sultans who ruled Bidar between the 13th and the 15th centuries. The Sultan invited Abdullah bin Kaiser, a craftsman from Iran to work on embellishing the royal palaces and courts; which he did by joining hands with local craftsmen and thus gave birth to Bidriware. Since then, the local Muslim and Lingayat sects have been handed down the art in order to succeed generations.The method of Bidri making had its origins in Persia, Iranians and Syrians. However, BIDRI is a specialized metal handcraft manufactured in Andhra Pradesh. The basic material used in order to make this craft is an alloy of 6% copper and 94% zinc. After the molding is done, the required article is then filed and the surface is smoothened, followed by the design sketching and engraving on the same. Into the engraved design, pure silver wires and sheets are inlaid by hammering them and the item is then filed, polished, buffed, and oxidized.A distinguished form of earth from the fort at Bidar is used in order to oxidize the article which leads to the alloy surface becoming jet-black and the silver remaining as it is, when the article is dipped into the boiled solution. The article is finally coated with coconut or groundnut oil and is finally polished with a soft cloth.Bidri are the works of art that involves extreme adroitness and patience on the part of the craftsman who devotes his/her diligent craftsmanship in the procedure of structuring it. This style of encrusted metal-work in which one metal is inlaid or overlaid on another metal requires acute practice, skillfulness and presence of mind. Behind the breathe-taking bidri crafts are the hard-working hours and struggling efforts of Hyderabadi artisans. Different kinds of bidri designs are decorated on items that include elephant figures, plates, bowls, huqqa bases, jewellery, ash-trays, trinket boxes etc. besides other work of art. So as to memorize its worth for years to come tourists from all over the world make it a point of acquiring it and considered it an exciting piece of art and a worthy gifting item. The Bidri designs are basically designs such as the Asharfi-ki-booti, stars, vine creepers and stylized poppy plants with flowers while the traditional designs include the Persian Rose and passages from the Quran in Arabic script. Thus, one should never miss the chance of visiting Hyderabad, which is the one-stop-destination of bidri-work and enjoy it's distinguish class and sophistication that has a mix of both modern and traditional India.Nirmal Paintingsdding to the list of the envious collection of fascinating art and craft forms, the Nirmal Paintings of Andhra Pradesh holds a significant position in the art and handicraft sector of the state. The exquisite traditional art form of Nirmal Paintings has earned its name from the Nirmal town in Adilabad district, where it is mostly seen.The community of craftsmen who are engaged with the traditional art form of Nirmal paintings are known as Nakkash. They usually depict the scenes from Hindu epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and other historical and mythological stories. This form of art received great patronage from the Mughal rulers, who were captivated by its beauty. Later on, Lady Hydri promoted Nirmal paintings in Hyderabad by bringing in experts craftsmen to the city.The uniqueness of Nirmal paintings is in the products that are used. The colors and dyes applied in these paintings are indigenous natural products made from gums, minerals and herbs. The widely used golden color are extracts or juice of different herbs. In recent time a change in the subjects can be noticed. Many painters of today are not contended with drawing from epics only but they are exploring the styles of Old Indian schools of paintings.Be a epic scene or an old school style, an example of the Nirmal paintings on the wall will surely enhance the beauty of your room.KolattamThe leader of the group controls the troupe and is known as Pennuddi or Kolanna Pantulu or Garuva. A couple of players is called Uddi, among the two one is called Rama and the next one is known as Lakshmana. Kolattam begins with the formation of a big circle consisting of all the members of the troupe, which later splits into two, one within the other. The leader of the troupe of Kolattam is accompanied by the Mridangam, flute, harmonium and cymbal players, who stand in the middle of the internal circle. Each performer holds up two sticks one in each hand that are decorated with colored strings or bells at its end.The various steps that are included in Kolattam is called Kopulu. 50 types of kopulu are commonly used in this folk dance. When the leader signals, pairs of dancers in the circle start moving offering a prayer to Lord Ganesha. Then a song is begun by the leader by crying out the rhythm of Etlugada. Different verses and beats are used in the songs including prayers, duets, or tales expressing Bhakti, Sringara, Karuna and Virarasa.BhamakalpamAndhra Pradesh is known for its rich culture, who has presented a huge range of performing arts, including dance, drama and music all over the world. Praised from centuries in India, dance has been one of the most interesting forms of performing art. Bhamakalpam is one such dance form which is basically originated from Kuchipudi dance form. In Bhamakalpam, Bhama refers to Satyabhama who was lord Krishna's alluring but envious wife and kalpam translates to complaint or argument. The dance form is dedicated to the time when Lord Krishna and Radha shared an idealistic relationship. Lord Krishna's wife Bhama, always used to mistrust him, because of his close relationship with Radha. She always used to feel insecure and envious towards Radha and used to fight with her husband regarding the same. The story revolves round the quarrel between Satyabhama and Krishna. Lord Krishna in order to tease her looks into the mirror and asks her who is beautiful between him and her. Satyabhama forgets that it is Lord Krishna who is incomparable in beauty and announces herself as the most beautiful one. To which Krishna gets offended and leaves the palace. Satyabhama realizes and begs her confidante Madhavi to bring her lord back. Finally she writes a letter and sends it with Madhavi. In the end seeing Satyabhama's repentance, Lord Krishna forgives her and they are once again united.Bhamakalpam is both a theatre and a drama form of dance style which was created by Siddhendra Yogi in the 17th century for the holy use of Kuchipudi artists. A fine example of the feminine movements in dance, the theatre is performed by several groups in Andhra Pradesh which is contrasted to the masculine tandava movements of Kathakali and Yakshagana.Affecting the minds of audience by its direct moral appeal, Bhamakalpam is a kind of traditional dance-drama which is simpler in its thematic development. Also termed as one-act play in folk form, it is a mono-play, displaying one main person and another less important than him. The show starts with each character taking entry on the stage with a self-introductory paragraph, while running commentary on the sequences is conducted by the Sutradhar and the dramatic gaps left are filled by the main character. Mainly emphasizing on Sattvikabhinaya with "Sringar" or "Bhakti" rasa, it is a short running play in which the main character narrates his or her experiences, while the other one encourages by asking questions and making comments. The dance is accompanied by song which is basically carnatic music sung with mridangam, violin, flute and the tambura. 'Boorugu' is a lightweight wood which artists use as an ornament while performing Bhamakalpam.Bhamakalpam is performed in a series of dances accompanied by classical music with an aim to retain the sanctity of dance from prostitute-dancers. For doing that Siddhendra Yogi trained a whole group of boys, chosen from Brahmin community and directed into this form of art. However, now-a-days the art has been governed by women. Later on, Bhamakalpam collected more praises and attained classical heights in the field of classical dance forms.VeeranatyamVeeranatyam, which means the "Dance of the Brave", is a traditional form of dance, which belongs to Andhra Pradesh, a state located at the south eastern coastal areas of India. This dance form is associated with religious significance. Like any other dance form of this state of the country, Veeranatyam even includes a variety of colorful costumes as well as different kinds of musical instruments. The main characteristic features of this dance pattern are the dex-ter-ous move-ments of hands and other skill-ful steps.History behind VeeranatyamThe name of this form of dance is found in the mythology of the Hindu religion. As per that mythological belief, God Shiva got furious after Sati Devi, His wife was humiliated. Outraged at that humiliation, God Shiva picked out "Jatajuta", a relic from His hair that created Veerabhadra. The extreme anger of Him was portrayed by the performance of a vigorous dance, which is believed to be the cause of destruction of the "Dakshayagna Vatika", which was the location of the function, where the wife of God Shiva was humiliated. To justify the reason, it was named as "Veeranatyam". However, it is called the "Dance of Destruction or Pralayam" as well.In this Indian state, initially, this dance form originated as one of the rituals that were performed in the honor of God Shiva in the different Shiva temples located there. Veerabhadra's followers, in particular the community of Veeramusti or Veerabhadriya residing in the state, are famous for performing Veeranatyam. Veerabhadriyas or Veeramustis claim themselves to be the Veerabhadra's descendant. Thus, this dancing style is even called Veerabhadra Natyam, which is performed by people from Draksharama, which is located at the eastern bank of the Godavari River. Apart from that, the other areas known for performing this style of dance are the western side of the river Godavari, Kurnool, Anantapur, Khammam and Warangal.Stages of VeeranatyamThis dance pattern, mainly performed by male dancers, has got 3 distinctive stages that are mentioned below:1st Stage: The dance starts with holding a big plate, named as "Veerabhadra Pallem", which bears camphor fire and is being carried to the elbows from the palms. Till the fire gets extinguished, the dance is performed vigorously to the rhythm of the percussion instruments. A part of this stage is even occupied by a recital called 'Khadgalu', where a priest brandishes a huge sword that represents Veerabhadra.2nd Stage: This stage is featured with the holding of a long holy pole, which is marked with sacred ash or Vibhuti that symbolizes the 'Dhwaja Sthamba'. Bells are tied to the top most part of those sacred poles.3rd Stage: In this stage, the performers dance with tridents and spears into their tongue, hands and ankles. This is known as 'Narasam'. Dressed in knee length colorful dhotis along with waist sashes and smeared with sacred ash, these performers end the dance. The main instrument used here is the war drum or "Veeranam". The other musical instruments accompanying this one are Dolu, Soolam, Thambura and Thasha.BurraKathaBurraKatha is a form of storytelling with the help of drumming instruments and chime and includes a group that comprises of minimum of three minstrels (one main performer and two co-performers) who are specifically trained in family tradition. It is one of the most famous kind of fictive pleasure in the state of Andhra Pradesh as the stories and the songs are dedicated to freedom fighters which belong mostly of Andhra Pradesh itself.The word 'burra' translates to 'tambura', which is a stringed instrument attired beyond the right shoulder of the artist, whereas 'Katha' refers to a story. Burra translates to skull in Telugu which is formed out of baked clay, dried pumpkin or of brass and copper; the shell portrays a human skull. This musical instrument looks alike veena and to get music out of it, the performer has to pull and press the strings. In this melodramatic style, a narrator along with his partner gives the performances for two or three days by singing, dancing and describing a story amongst the people of the village. The performance commences when the main storyteller, also known as kathakudu, details the story by playing tambura and dancing to the music. The partners play gummeta, also known as dakki or budike, which are earthen drums with two heads. The right side artist, also known as hasyaka, acts as a joker and cracks jokes while the left side artist also called rajakiya, enacts as someone who knows about political and social issues. The partners always praise the kathakudu and interrupt him by asking doubts while performing. The kathakudu always begins with singing "vinara veera kumara veera gadha vinara" followed by the partners singing "tandhana tane tandhana na."Burrakatha has many local names associated with every region, for example- in the Coastal region it is called Jangam Katha, in Rayalaseema it is pronounced as Tandana katha or suddulu and in Telangana as Tamboora katha or sarada katha.To go back to how it all started, it is believed that one fine day the forefathers of the Jangam tribe set out for a trip to forest in order to hunt for rats. While their search, Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati saw them and their poor life. Watching their plight, goddess Parvati felt sorry for them and insisted upon Lord Shiva to help them. Before doing so, Lord Shiva decided to test them first and disguised himself as an old man and Goddess Parvati became a lovely young woman. When they went to these people to suggest them for a healthy living, the men humiliated and shoved the old man and the lady. By this behavior, Goddess Parvati got furious and cursed them to be beggars and wanderers and live in this way forever. This is how the people started burrakatha, in which they portray the stories of Lord Shiva in order to earn their bread and butter by begging. Thus, the word Jangama translates to "the adorer of God Shiva," and "the one who wears linga".KalamkariOut of the many beautiful forms of handicrafts, the Kalamkari in Andhra Pradesh has always been favorite with the art and craft lovers. The Kalamkari craft of Andhra Pradesh involves the art of printing and painting of fabrics. This is a rare kind of art, which uses a Kalam or quill, from which it has earned its name and also vegetable dyes. It is exclusively found in the Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti areas of the state. However the areas have distinct styles of their own. While artists in Machilipatnam use designs carved in wooden blocks for printing, the Srikalahasti style uses the wax process to fill in the colors after drawing the outlines with the quill.All the colors and dyes, which are used in the Kalamkari craft style are made of natural products. The printing process of Kalamkari is very delicate and time taking as it involves not less than twelve different stages. Kalamkari is mostly used in wall decorations and clothes. It is highly inspired by the Persian patterns and motifs. The art form of Kalamkari usually showcases mythological figures and stories. Stories of the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Shiv Puranas are also depicted on the fabrics. The origin of Kalamkari dates back to the 10th century when it was derived as the result of trade relations between the Indian and Persian merchants. Kalamkari is one of the most traditional Indian handicrafts and you should not miss to bring home a 'piece' of this tradition in your next Andhra Pradesh visit.DhimsaThe Araku valley located in the Visakhapatnam district is mainly inhabited by Valmiki, Bagata, Khond and Rotia tribes. Dhimsa is a popular dance of these tribes, performed by tribal men and women. It is performed especially during the month of chaitra, which falls in March or April, according to Gregorian calendar, and also during weddings and other festivals.The Brilliant Folk Art Forms of Tamil Naduby Pandhalaraja on 26th Feb, 2016 · 03 min read · 62 viewsThe cultural history of Tamil Nadu is very popular for being one of the most unique and diverse. Scholars and historians from across the globe are researching on the ancient art forms of Tamil Nadu and are uncovering many secrets which change the way we have been perceiving global history. They classify art forms based on the mode of entertainment, namely: Literature (Iyal), Music (Isai) and Drama (Nadagam). These art forms were derived from the Rural Street Play culture (Theru Koothu) which has survived till this day. Here are some of the most brilliant folk art forms of Tamil Nadu:Bagavatha Nadanam: Usually performed inside a temple, Bagavatha Nadanam is intended as a celebration of Lord Krishna’s frolic with the Gopikas (the group of cowherding girls who were very devoted to him, according to the Vishnava theology). This dance is performed during Ramanavami and Gokulashtami.Bommalattam: These are the native puppet shows that depict stories from the Puranas, epics and folklore. They are performed by professional puppeteers who stand behind a screen and manipulate the puppets using strings or wires. Bommalattam is common in every village festival.Chakkai Attam: Chakkai Attam is a dance form which involves the tapping of small teak wooden pieces held between the fingers of the dancers while dancing to the music of the taps. A group of around 10 dancers dance to their tune in a circle or parallel lines.Kamandi: Kamandi is celebrated to commemorate the Puranic event of Manmada, the God of Love, being burnt by Siva. Primarily celebrated in villages, the villagers separate themselves into two parties as Erintha katchi (the burnt party) and Eriyatha katchi (the unburnt party) and engage themselves in a debate.Karagattam: Karagattam is a Tamil folk dance form which involves the balancing of pots, usually made of clay, or other objects such as wooden dolls on the dancers head. They dance to folk songs which are played by an accompanying Naiyandi Melam player. This dance is usually associated with the worship of the goddess Mariamman, the goddess of rain.Kazhai Kothu: This is the ancient Tamil equivalent to the modern day circus. Kazhai Kothu is a performance of gymnastic fetes by artists who are usually travelers moving from one village to the other. They setup a show at every village and showcase their skills and enthrall the local villagers.Paampu Atam: Paampu Atam or Snake Dance is a form of worship of the snakes which are considered as a protective divinity, safeguarding the health and happiness of the rural folk by the Ancient Tamils. It is usually danced by young girls dressed in a tight-fitting costume designed like the snake-skin and by simulating the movements of the snake, it’s writhing, creeping and hissing, alin with making quick biting movements. Dancers raise their hands and hold them together and make it look like the hood of a snake.