Tamil Nadu is a state in south India known for its rich tradition and culture of more than 2000 years, perhaps much more older than we know. I am writing certain snippets of this culture.
Each and every race has its own individual behavior and customs. It is now universally acknowledged that Tamil culture has a long heritage. Many of the ancient tamil customs are still in practice. we can trace this from Tamil literature. the daily life of Tamilian starts like this..
Getting up before the sunrise is a must for the Tamilians. It is still followed in the rural areas and in some places in urban areas too. our Avvaiyar patti or grandmother advised our children in AATHICHUDI to get up early before sunrise. The first thing we do is cleaning and decorating the entrance of our house with Kolam, Kolam were put with the rice flour mix. nowadays we put kola in lime powder or white stone powder. Rice flour kola is put on auspicious days; we even decorate kola with red border by using red mud. for some festivals like pongal we use color powders in kolams.
Taking bath is a must for Tamilians, in olden days people take bath in rivers, mountain pools and waterfalls. this practice is there even today but as a picnic. Married women use turmeric everyday one face, hands and legs. Women take head bath on fridays and men take head on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Filter coffee as a traditionally strong brew prepared over a stainless steel filter. A traditional Tamilians life starts with a filter coffee in the morning. It is not only a morning drinks; it’s a great laxative also. Filter coffee lost its charm to instant coffee, in recent period now it is making a comeback.
Dress is an important part in tamilians life, for men it is Dhoti and for women it is a sari. Unmarried girls wear pavadai, dhavani or half sari. In sangam period people used to wear dresses made up of leaves and flowers which were very popular among ladies. In silapadhikaram book, speak about women changing their dress in the evening; I don’t think this is possible now as most of our women are going for jobs. As soon as they come home, they like to be in nighty or night dress. When I’m talking on saris, I cannot miss pattu saris or silk saris. Wearing silk sari for various auspicious functions and festivals has always been important in tamil culture. The silk saris enjoy a worldwide reputation right from the sangam age. Kancheepuram is famous for weaving silk saris in TamilNadu. Different themes and designs are weaved in silk saris. Silk saris, ornaments, kumkum on forehead and flowers on hair give a very grace look for tamil women.
Tamils have given much importance for flowers and jewels for all ages. There is no function without flowers. We put lot of fresh flowers to the god to absorb the odor from multiple devotees breathing out. Women adore flowers, they wear everyday and in every occasion, when visiting temples, relative house etc. widows are deprived of this.
Tamil men and women both use gold ornaments. Men use chains, bracelet, kanganam, finger rings while women use ornaments from head to toe. On head we put nethi chuti which falls on forehead, jadda billai head, jimiki as an earrings is famous, necklace, haram(long chain), vanki or arm chain, vodiyanam or hip chain, nose pin, bangles, finger rings, anklets for legs and metti as a toe ring. Gold, diamond, kemp or uncut rubies, emeralds and pearls are famously used in jewellary. It is a custom that married women should not remove their thali or mangalsutra. Tamil ladies should not leave their neck or hand bare. It is not compulsory that they should wear only gold ornaments, they can wear ornaments made by any material but they should not leave their hand and neck empty. Tamil women have the habit of putting kanmai or kajol in eyes, it not only adds grace to the face but also it brightens the eyes..
Another important custom for Tamils , is putting kumkum on forehead. Turmeric, kumkum and flowers are considered auspicious for married women.
It was a practice for widows to wear white sari but this practice was later vanished. Widows are deprived of flowers, kumkum , turmeric and thali(mangalsutra).
Tamil people eat both vegetarian and Non vegetarian. Brahmins eat only vegetarian. Rice is the main staple food for Tamilians. Nonveg is avoided on auspicious days and generally on Fridays. In olden days food was eaten on the plantain leaf. Now a day’s people eat food on plantain leaves only during festivals. Betel leaves or Thamboolam is used for auspicious occasions. Normally betel is chewed often after food for digestion, thamboolam was exchanged whenever marriages are finalized. The custom of offering food to the crow on auspicious occasions or on anniversaries of departed souls were practiced. When I offer food to the crows, my husband always tells me his grandmother has come to bless him, it shows how much he was attached to this grandmother.
Tamilians worship nature god, pongal is celebrated as thanks giving festival for sun god for good cultivation. Other famous gods are Lord Shiva, his younger son Muruga or Karthigeya and Amman or durga.
Tamilians have an every reason for every practice. In olden days Tamils used to brush teeth in banyan tree root, this strengthens the teeth. Everyday sweeping house is a must. Homes are cleaned on every Friday. Every evening we must put diya in our house in front of god.
When it comes to hospitality Tamilians have been giving much importance to hospitality. Our great poet Valuvar said “The goddess of wealth will gladly abide when pleasing smiles welcome worthy guests. Tamil Veda says “taking food with the guests is the beauty of the meals”. Ladies are given kumkum while taking leave from their hosts. We treat even enemies with compassion. Our hospitality ethics are famous.
These are the snippets of Tamil culture, more will follow.
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Very nice. I advise you to continue the series with restaurants, temples, festivals etc., with photos. Good read. Write frequently.
Thank you very much sir for liking my article. surely will follow your advise.
Wonderful read..Thank You.. Enjoyed reading it.. Thank you for sharing 🙂
thank you very much Vijay jee!
Thanks for ypour support!
Jans- a good compilation of tamil customs
thanks for your support!
Janani Amma,I am delighted to read your new write where you have rendered pictursque description of Tamil culture and tradition.Though I am aware if all these tradition as I am very close to many Tamil families in Delhi and partucipated in their functions,still it was a delight to read your rendering.Thank you Amma.
thank you very much jee for appreciating my work and its a delightful to note that you have so many Tamil friends and you also know the Tamil culture
When I started my practice in Supreme Court,my constant companion was one Mr.Narsimham who initially trained me.So friends because of my constant company and my look took me as Tamilian.Still,all South Indian friends are natural friends.
Vanakkam Ms.Janani!
Tamil holds a special place for me because it was the first regional language of India I had learned as a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya ( which uses English,Hindi,Sanskrit as medium of instruction ) . Even mother tongue was learnt much later ,along with rest of languages only after stepping into practice as a Lawyer .
Certainly Tamil is one of the most beautiful forms to articulate ,convey,express feelings,emotions and exchange views .
However, to me the most pleasant experience with Tamil has been to notice the Aborgines in Australia use certain words which are still in use in modern day Tamil language! Noted danseuse Padma Subramaniam will bear testimony to this fact.
If you ever encounter real aborigines down under, do try conversing in their native dialect .
Chennapatnam,as you know was founded by the chieftain of the fishing hamlet before the arrival of East India Company in ‘ Madras’ ,re-christened lately as Chennai!
Cultural symmetry of various settlers around the river valley civilisations of the world can be assessed as well as accessed via the languages .
Thank you, your commentary is enlightening..
Thank you Jee!
Well done. Please continue it as a serial…
Thank you!