Tappeta gundlu is a folk dance confined to the coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Vishakhapatnam. This was originally performed by cowherds and shepherds as a ritualistic dance propitiating the rain god and their favourite deity Gangamma. While dancing they sing devotional songs on Sri Krishna, Dasavataras and on goddess Gangamma besides other folk songs and narratives. Tappeta or gundlu is a small percussion instrument in the shape of a drum hanging on the chest and tied to the sides and neck of the players. A troupe consisting of eight to sixteen artistes sing and dance in circles beating with their hands the drums tied to their chests. The players tie jingling bells to their ankles. They put on tight knickers stitched with jingling bells all over. They tie colourful clothes around their waists and long loin clothes hanging up to their feet in front as well as at the back resembling two tails.

This dance requires skill and muscle power. The artistes exhibit rare skills in acrobatics while dancing. The drum beats, the sounds of jingling bells tied to their ankles and the sounds of the bells stitched to their shorts blend harmoniously with the different gaits and steps of the artistes. Their repertoire constitutes twenty to thirty gatibhedas. The dance, styles along with a variety of songs composed in consonance with the dance styles. All dancers sing pallavi of a song or a narrative following their troupe leader. While dancing, the artistes, eight in a group, stand one above the other on the thighs and shoulders in the shape of a gopuram or a tree with its branches hanging. They lie down and move like the hands of a clock. They stand one above the other on an earthen pot with tumblers full of water on their heads. They whirl fast and fall down with a heavy thud. They come out of their dancing circle and exhibit shoulder and limb movements as in the Bhangra dance of Punjab. The beating of drums, dancing and singing always goes on.

Urumulu (Thunder Dance)

Urumulu or thunder dance is found only in Anantapuram district. The instrument employed in this dance is called urumu. It is a percussion instrument which sounds like thunder. The instrument is made out of brass or bell metal - a hollow round pipe. Both sides are covered with goat skin fixed on to iron rings and tightened with ropes at the top of the drum. It hangs from the left shoulder on the belly of the artiste and it is tied to the right side of the waist. The left side of the instrument is rubbed with a thin stick and the right side is beaten with a thick stick.

The urumu dancers belong to the scheduled caste. They are a pious and virtuous group of people who observe religious austerity and worship goddess Akkamma. They abstain from drinking and eating meat. They present urumu dance to please their deity. It is a ceremonial dance. They move in circles adopting different styles and foot steps and play on urumu. They put on big turbans and strings of beads or coins like metal pieces around their necks. They smear their faces with turmeric and also put on Namam on their foreheads. They wear long shirts covering from neck to feet and an upper garment hanging from both shoulders. While dancing they sing devotional songs on Lord Kadiri Narasimhaswami, Dasavataras and goddess Akkamma.

Butta Bommalata

Marionette play is the oldest surviving art form in India. The marionette's or puppets are made of different materials. Butta Bommalu are made of bamboo, tamarind seed paste, paper, cattle dung or husk and hay. The figures are coloured according to the tradition and used for plays.

It is made up to waist only and hollow inside. The dolls are three to four times bigger than the human figures. A coloured cloth is tied around the doll at the waist that covers the player who enter into it. There is a hole in the doll at the navel through which the artiste can see the outside world. Figures of Siva and Parvati ,Vishnu and Lakshmi, Garuda and Hanuman, Radha and Krishna are very common in Butta Bommalata. It is presented at festive gatherings, car festivals, marriage ceremonies, Navaratri celebrations, Ganesh immersion festivals and recently in election campaigns. These puppets are large enough to serve as full masks for men and women who dance to the rhythm of a Dappu or Mridangam. Band, Dhole, Sonnayi are used as accompaniments in the Butta Bommalata. The troupe consist of at least ten members four of whom are in the puppets and dance, four who play instruments, one instructor and the troupe leader. This is only a dumb dance, accompanied only by the sounds of instruments.

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