The Chettiar weddings and traditions

A pre pandemic wedding of a friend took us to the quaint lands of O Siruvayal, on the outskirts of Karaikudi in Chettinad district. The wedding and feast is always a grand one in the Chettiar community. The wedding is mostly performed in their ancestral mansions which is large enough to house three generations. The athangudi tiles laid in these homes are another artifacts unique to this region.

Apart from these the clan and community culture of the Chettiars is worth mentioning which not many are aware.

Chettinad falls within the Sivagangai and Pudukottai districts in the south of Tamilnadu. This is the abode of the Nagarathar (also known as Chettiars) community who are ardent Vishnu worshipers. They built many temples including 9 major clan temples around this region. More than 90 plus settlement are associated with these temples. Every temple has its own set of rules and as religious activities play a big role, the  town planning and the community living has its own unique culture too. One interesting fact is, that people belonging to the same temple are looked upon as siblings; hence marriage is only among people belonging to different temple clans. 

It is also stressed that marrying from other castes are forbidden. Moreover the clans outcasts the family if done so. It's also surprising to note that the younger generation too do not oppose this and whole-heartedly accept and follow the traditions and customs of the Chettiar community.

Will surprise many ... Believe it or not!! ... 

Getting to Chettinad is easy as the main city of Karaikudi is well-connected by good roads and railways. The nearest airport is just around 60km away in neighboring Trichy. 

   

Fundera, Yelagiri , Tamil Nadu (Travelogue)

As we walk into the Fundera .. one can only remember the quote 

" You are never too old to be young" 

and the old nursery rhyme "old McDonald had a farm"..  starts ringing in our mind..  

A venture run by Mr Vishak and his wife on a sprawling farm at the Yelagiri hills in Tamilnadu with its neat little pathways take us to a long lost fantasy land.... 

 

The land where fluffy white ducks walk lazily around us and the hens and chicks welcome us into its coop to be petted.

And where we see ... the bunnies hop happily onto our feet and the guinea piggies keep chomping on the leaves... 

Then there's a cute donkey, nudging close to the fence and poses for a picture with us..

As we turn right we see the ostriches  racing around their huge fenced space and don't wish to come near ... 

Hearing the mooing sound we move towards the cows and calves and that's when we see an enclosed aviary, with a various chirping sounds.. 

The birds from far and wide are housed here. Big and small, brightly coloured oblivious to the strangers they peck into our palms for food..  perching magestically on our hands and shoulders.

A wonderful place to visit while spending a leisure trip at the otherwise laid back town of Yelagiri.

(Yelagiri is a small hill station situated off the Vanniyambadi - Thirupattur road. It's altitude is around 1,100 meters above sea level and is spread around 30 kms sqared. There are few gardens, parks and temples around where one can spend a weekend. Eatouts are few and the tourist mostly need to depend on the resort restaurant.) 

A Journey of Life Ends (Poem)

(This poem is dedicated to my mother-in-law who passed away ... 
as she looks upon us from above... 
with her usual calm Smile...)

You may put my picture upon the wall
And look at me as teardrops fall..
I am not there, I've filled the void
I am not dead, I'm around you all.

When you awake, the morning rush....
I am in the swift uplifting hush
I am the chirpy bird that took a flight
I am the little stars that shine at night.

I am the wind that gently blow,
I am the glitter on the fluffy snow
I am the sunlight on every grain
I am the dewdrop of the rain.

Do not stare there upon the wall
And look for me with tears fall...
I am not there I've filled the void
I am not dead, I'm around you all....