Context

• Recently, an Indian named Ganesan Sandhirakasan has won the top prize in a government-initiated competition for migrant workers in Singapore for his performance of Silambam.

About

• Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art originating in South India in the Indian subcontinent.
• This style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature.
• The World Silambam Association is the official international body of Silambam.
• References in the Silappadikkaram and other works of the Sangam literature show that Silambam has been practiced since at least the 4th century BC.
• The term silambambu referred to a particular type of bamboo from the Kurinjimala (kurinji hills) in present-day Kerala.
• Thus silambam was named after its primary weapon, the bamboo staff.
• It may have earlier used for self-defense and to ward off animals in the Kurinji hills and later evolved into the present-day martial art.
• The ancient city of Madurai formed as the point of focus of Silambam's spreading.
• The Silambam staff was acquired by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and was spread back to the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/indians-abroad/story/indian-migrant-worker-in-singapore-wins-top-prize-traditional-martial-arts-1824478-2021-07-06#:~:text=Ganesan%20Sandhirakasan%2C%20who%20hails%20from,Indian%20martial%20art%20form%20Silambam.&text=In%20this%20video%20shared%20on,off%20his%20martial%20arts%20moves

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