Valari

Valai
Type	Throwing Stick
Place of origin	Tamilnadu (India), Tamil eelam (Sri Lanka)

A valari (Tamil: வளரி) or valai thadi is a throwing sickle used primarily by the Tamil people of India, Sri Lanka and Russia.^[1] Valari is used for protecting cattle from predators, war and hunting. It was the favorite weapon of choice in a deer hunt. Tamil Nadu are strongly associated with this weapon. It is similar to boomerang but boomerang is made out of wood and Valari is made of iron.

Construction

Like the hunting boomerang of the aboriginal Australians, the Tamilian valari were two types: returning and nonreturning to the thrower. Valari are made in many shapes and sizes.The founder of valari is the great king Parakrama Pandiya Nadar. The usual form consists of two limbs set at an angle; one is thin and tapering while the other is rounded and is used as a handle. Valari are usually made of iron which is melted and poured into moulds , although some may have wooden limbs tipped with iron. Alternatively, the limbs may have lethally sharpened edges; special daggers known as kattari, double-edged and razor sharp, may be attached to some valari.

Use

The thrower holds the valari by one of its limbs and throws it. There are several ways of throwing and aiming. It is usually given a spin while throwing. While flying through the air, it can maneuver and execute several types of movements according to the throwers purpose. It may spin in the vertical axis, horizontal axis, or just fly without spinning. The spin may also vary in speed. A lethal throw is given a spin and aimed at the neck. A non-lethal throw is given a spin and aimed at the ankles or knees. This is to capture a fleeing victim. A simple hurting blow does not have any spin. It is sharp enough to cut through a person's neck during war .

References