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Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu usually dedicated to goddess Mariamman. As per Tamil literature, the dance form originated from a mix of Bharatanatyam and other folk dance forms. It was often performed in festivals and fairs, and used as a means to pray for rain. Different variations of the dance form exists, including Karagam Puja performed in the Caribbean.
In Caribbean Shaktism, a tradition found among the Indo-Caribbeans of Tamil origin, Karakattam is known as Karagam Puja or Kalasa Puja. The tradition was brought by the Girmityas, indentured servants from the Indian Subcontinent. The practice takes place over three consecutive days and done as a dedication to the gods Kamakshi and Meenakshi. The festival also involves honouring other gods such as a puja for Mariamman before the procession, a river procession where offerings on a board are thrown into water as a tribute to Ganga Amman, and Kateri Amman.
The pujaris (priests) enter a trance state and honour the village gods Karuppu Sami and Madurai Veeran through processions with various stunts such as whipping, putting hot camphor inside the mouth, and walking on hot coals before running to a pool made of milk. Other stunts can include piercing of the tongues and cheeks, dancing on sharpened machetes, and animal sacrifices are also made. The Kalasha are kept in the temple and consecrated accordingly, before being built with a coconut, several layers of neem and oleander. Three participants enter the Sami Aduthal stage and then two of them carry the Karagams (usually these two participants being boys before hitting puberty or women), and the other one receives the god Madurai Veeran and is dressed with a garland of oleander flowers and carries a staff topped with neem leaves.
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