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CLUSTER LEVEL KALA UTSAV 2025-26 SOLO CLASSICAL DANCE NATESHA KAUTHUVAM A Kauthuvam, Kauthuvam means "Poetic quality". It is a hymn, or a song of devotion, in praise of deities. It is performed as an invocational dance prayer piece, in a Bharatnatyam repertoire. The Kauthavams were once performed as rituals by temple dancers. On the day of "tiruvadira" in the month of margazhi when the deities were brought out for a procession, the devadasis performed the Kauthuvams and sung amidst the crowds. Certain temples had their own Kauthuvams depending on the deities. The custom was to use high pitched ragas to compose themn. The 'Natesha Kauthavam' is a dance in praise of lord Nataraja of Chidambaram. He is the god of destruction as well as the god of dance in his Nataraja' form. This is a fast-paced piece that has beautiful poses of Natesha. In a Kauthuvam, shollukattus or rhythmic syllables are interwind with the lyrics of the song. Thus, it has both nritta or footwork and abhinaya or expression components in its choreography. This melodious song is set in VARALI' Raagam and AAD' Taalam..