Silambam

• Ganesan Sandhirakasan hails from Tamil Nadu, secured first place in a government initiated competition for migrant workers for choreographing and performing a sequence of Silambam.

Silambam:

• It is an ancient weapon-based martial art that emerged in Tamilakam, which is now the Tamil Nadu region of India.
• It is one of the oldest martial arts in the world.
• From a pure defence art , it transformed into combat exercise.
• It is closely linked to the Kerala martial art kalaripayattu.
• It derives from the Tamil word silam, meaning hill.
• The term silambambu referred to a particular type of bamboo from Kerala.

• Primary weapon used is the bamboo staff.
• Other weapons: Maru (thrusting weapon which is made from horns of deer) Aruva (sickle), Savuku (a whip), Vaal (curved sword), Kuttu Katai (spiked knuckle duster), Katti (knife), Sedikuchi (cudgel or short stick).
• Silappadikkaram and other works of the Sangam literature show that Silambam has been practiced since at least the 2nd century BC.
• It was promoted during reign of Pandya, Chola, and Chera in southern India.