Karagattam - Serena Williams and ......Venus Rosewater dish

There are various ways of celebrating victory and this particular photo reminded me of ‘Muthiah and Kamakshi’- the characters of that famous movie which is most remembered for the banana (Vazhaipazham) comedy of Goundamani and Senthil. No prize for guessing it to be ‘Karagattakkaran’ ~ movie released in 1989, directed by GangaiAmaran starring Ramarajan, Kanaka which ran for 400+ days.

Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. The performers balance the water pot on their head very beautifully. Earlier it was performed only with the accompaniment of the naiyandimelam, later it also included songs. In the Karakattam, intricate steps and body/arm movements decides the skill of performer. The pots are decorated in many ways with the help of attractive flower arrangements, topped by a moving paper parrot. The parrot rotates as the dancer takes swings along these looks beautiful.  Some experts also dance standing over a plate i.e. rim of the plate, filled with water, without spilling water out of the plate while balancing the karakam on their head. Most expert artistes are from the regions of Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Pattukkottai and Salem, Tamil Nadu.  The movie KaragattaKaran based on the folk dance was a great hit  mainly thanks to the melodies of Illaiyaraja – with song, "Maanguyilae Poonguyile sethionnu kelu." blaring throughout the State. 

At Wimbledon, Serena flowed – she won in straight sets beating her less experienced opponent Spaniard 6-4, 6-4. Muguruza was overcome with emotion after losing to Williams in straight sets and was seen crying into her towel at the side of the court.  Speaking after her win today, Williams, who last won Wimbledon in 2012, said it felt 'so good' to have the trophy back in her hands.

The winning point game in the second set with Williams leading five games to Muguruza's four. The crowd's reaction was delayed with even Williams unsure whether she had won the point.  The champion turned her head to her opponent who is 12 years her junior, and said: 'Congratulations, please don't be sad. 'You'll be holding this trophy very, very soon, believe me.

After the hard work -  Serena Williams was in a playful mood balancing the Champion's Plate on her head - She balanced the plate on her head heading back for the changing room.  Serena Williams has name engraved on Venus Rosewater Dish – meantime, Muguruza, the 21 year old,  struggled to hold back tears as she received her runner-up trophy. Joking about her relative inexperience on grass, she joked: 'In Spain we don't have that much grass but I'm going to change things now. The  21-year-old opponent spoke of idolising the American as she climbed the ranks of junior tennis.

Earlier, Serena Williams  reached the finals of Wimbledon 2015 beating Maria Sharapova in straight sets on Centre Court.  Dubbed 'The Serena Slam' by fans, she has achieved the feat once before in 2002-2003.  The winner walked away with prize money of  £1,880,000 while it was £940,000 for the runner. This is her 25th Grand Slam final and brings an end to her 15th Wimbledon tournament whereas it is Muguruza's first Grand Slam match. The 21-year-old is the first Spaniard to reach the Woman's Finals since 1996 when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario lost to Steffi Graff.

It you are wondering what ‘Venus Rosewater Dish’ is all about………….it is the title -  the Ladies' Singles Trophy awarded at The Championships, Wimbledon, firstpresented to the Champion in 1886. The 50 guineas trophy is an 18 3/4 inchdiameter, partially gilded, sterling silver salver made in 1864 by MessrsElkington and Co. Ltd ofBirmingham, and is a copy of an electrotype by CasparEnderlein from the original in the Louvre. It is tradition for the winner to beawarded the trophy by the President of the All England Lawn Tennis and CroquetClub, HRH the Duke of Kent, and then walk a lap around the court to display thetrophy to the crowd and photographers.

The winner does not keep the trophy,which remains in the museum at the All-England club, but from 1949 to 2006 allChampions have received a miniature replica of the trophy (diameter 8 inches),and from 2007 all Champions have received a three-quarter replica of thetrophy, bearing the names of all past Champions (diameter 14 inches).

If you are curious enough, the Gentleman who wins receives a silver gilt cup18.5 inches (about 47 cm) in height and 7.5 inches (about 19 cm) in diameter.The trophy has been awarded since 1887 and bears the inscription: "All EnglandLawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World." The winners of theGentlemen's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events receive silvercups. The runner-up in each event receives an inscribed silver plate.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

14^th July 2o15