Tamil culture and traditions are among the oldest in the world and Tamilians are known to hold on to their traditions, including the many rituals and ceremonies that are a part of daily life. These rich traditions evolved over many centuries and are very much a part of the Tamil identity.
So when you find a Kolam outside a house in the US, you can be sure it belongs to a Tamilian.
This daily ritual of drawing figures on the threshold of the house is unique to Tamil culture. The inner and outer worlds are separated by these decorations which guards the household and welcome visitors as well. Mostly they are closed, continuous figures and are associated with the never-ending cycle of birth and death.
A girl attaining puberty is a big event for Tamilians and there are celebrations and ceremonies associated with the occasion. In some communities like the Chettiars, there are ceremonies even for boys attaining adulthood.
Rolling one’s bodies around the temple’s outer boundaries is a custom here. This is an offering to the deity and sometimes people roll many times over! In Thiruvannamalai, it takes the form of circling the hill – a distance of 13 km!
Donating a child’s first hair to the deity is also a very popular custom and the first shaving is held in great ceremony.
Like most states in India, marriages are big occasions in Tamil Nadu too. A curious tradition for some communities during marriages is the 'Kulavaiyidal'. Women folk assembled for the marriage make shrill sounds as an accompaniment to the ceremony.
Another interesting tradition is that the cash received first in the morning is accepted with a lot of reverence and solemnity. So if you want to buy something from a Tamilian’s shop, try and be the first customer. There won’t be much haggling and you are sure to get a good bargain.
Every aspect of life of a Tamilian is governed by beliefs and superstitions. There are beliefs about travel, numbers, days of the week, and colors that are considered auspicious.
No comments:
Post a Comment