Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: First time in the history of Republic Day function in Jammu, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jammu Sector will showcase its ‘Karagam’ dance to represent the heritage of Tamil Nadu before Governor, distinguished guests, students and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per official spokesperson, Havildar General Duty A Jayaraman with 21 jawans of CRPF during full dress rehearsal presented Kargam, a folk dance of Tamil Nadu with the purpose of national integration. CRPF personnel who presented the dance are posted in the Naxal infested states and Jammu and Kashmir.
Karagam dance is a folk dance performed in the Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Karagam is originated in Thanjavur, a village in Tamil Nadu. The dance was to praise the rain goddess “Mari Amman” and the river goddess “Gangai Amman” as a part of their custom. The idol of Mariamman is carried in procession. This ritual is performed in the month of August. The dance is very popular in Tamil Nadu for its intricate movements and the way dancers balance pot on their heads, he added.
He further stated that in the Karagam dance, intricate steps and body/arm movements decide the skill of the performer. This dance can be performed individually or in pairs, by both the genders. Some of the steps that are widely used are similar to the circus acts; dancing on a rolling block of wood, up and down a ladder, threading a needle while bending backwards and many more. The instruments that accompany this dance comprise of drums and long pipes. These musical instruments add vigour to the dance and make it look beautiful and sound rhythmic.
It is to mention that CRPF has its origin on July 27, 1939 at Neemuch as the Crown Representative’s Police. The independence of the country marked an important watershed in the life of the Force which was renamed as the Central Reserve Police by the act passed in the Parliament in 1949.
Since its inception, CRPF has earned 1 George Cross, 1 Ashok Chakra, 1 Vir Chakra, 1 Kirti Charka, 14 Shaurya Chakra, 1 Padam Shri, 3 King’s Police medal for Gallantry, 49 President’s Police and Fire Service Medals for Gallantry, 89 President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, 1124 Police Medal for Gallantry, 4 Vishist Seva Medal, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, 5 Sena Medals, 98 Prime Minister’s Police Medal for Life Saving, 1 Jeevan Raksha Padak and 5 IMPG.
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