Tamil Nadu govt model school students turn silambam exponents at city expo
These were among the many traditional martial art weapons from
Tamil Nadu
on display at a one-of-a-kind silambam exhibition held for the first time on Egmore Museum premises in Chennai by the state school education department. The event offered visitors a chance to see the artistry and ingenuity of Tamil martial heritage up close - from the beauty of a spinning staff to the stealth of a concealed strike.
Silambam is not just about acrobatically twirling a five-foot staff cut from tree branches; it is the root from which much of Tamil Nadu's traditional combat forms and weapons evolved.
To spread this message, the exhibition showcased the skill and knowledge of 39 presenters –– all students of govt model schools from across the state. These students, trained in Silambam three days a week beyond school hours, guided visitors through the weapons, explaining their origins, uses, and place in Tamil culture.
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The crowd favourite was the Oothukolli, where a lightweight dart, sharpened to a fine edge and dipped in poison, is shot through a 40–50 cm steel tube.
'The flow is much faster with bamboo tubes,' explained Rathina Chandran, a Class XII student from Nilgiris Model School.
The Bogu drew curious glances for its deceptive appearance-looking like a simple flute but hiding a concealed blade beneath its outer covering. 'This was used for carrying out sly attacks. I have read about these weapons in books, but seeing them up close was a different experience,' said Senthil Kumar, an aikido and silambam teacher from Chennai.
Other displays bridged past and present, revealing how weapons like the Kathivaal resemble fencing swords, and the Kavan mirrors the modern-day slingshot. Visitors also watched live demonstrations featuring silambam staves, the whiplike Urival, and the dagger-like Katari.
A panel discussion explored silambam's place in history and its potential for revival.
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