Ancient Martial Arts and Instruments Showcased at Victoria Hall in Chennai

Traditional musical instruments and martial arts equipment used by ancient Tamils took centre stage on Saturday at a students-artists confluence held at Victoria Hall in Chennai. More than 100 students from Chennai's Government Model School, alongside trainers from 38 model schools across Tamil Nadu, participated in the event to demonstrate indigenous cultural traditions.

The two-day event was organised by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Housing Corporation (TAHDCO) in collaboration with the Greater Chennai Corporation and Artful Collective. The initiative aimed to provide a dedicated platform for students and traditional artists to showcase the state's cultural heritage.

School Education and Tamil Development Minister Rajmohan inaugurated the exhibition. During his visit, the minister inspected more than 50 pieces of traditional equipment displayed by the students and interacted with the participants.

Among the key exhibits were various forms of equipment used in Silambam and ancient warfare, alongside traditional percussion and music instruments. A major highlight of the display was the 'Chakrabanam', a traditional training tool crafted from colourful ropes and balls that creates the visual appearance of a circular flower when spun.

The Chakrabanam is utilised during Silambam practice both for aesthetic purposes and for skill development, aiding practitioners in building speed, hand-eye coordination, body control, and precision during martial arts training.