Topic started by V.C.Vijayaraghavan (@ cache-hay.cableinet.co.uk) on Wed Apr 18 05:43:08 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

http://www.indiaabroaddaily.com/2001/04/14/14tamil.html

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• Old responses
  
• From: Aruvaal (@ 210.186.51.17) on: Wed Oct 9 12:00:23
  
  Navarathri means Nine Nights (notice all the Ns?) :)
  
  First three is for Paarvathi, the Goddess of Courage
  Second three for Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth
  Last three for Saraswathy, the Goddess of Learning
  
  Most people who have seen the movie Aathi Parasakthi, will tell you the Saktham version of 9N, but there are other versions too.
  
  According to another version, Mahishasuran, the evil demon was to be vanquished first by fighting (Parvathi) then by using one's riches (Lakshmi) but eventually could only be destroyed when knowledge (Saraswathy) was used. The last day is called Saraswathy or Aayutha Poojai.
  Some people celebrate the 10th day as Vijayadasami.
  
  As for the popular version, see the movie. :)
  
  
• From: kumaran (@ athena.wits.ac.za) on: Wed Oct 9 13:13:13
  
  FH?? do u mean flower hall fridge? are u studying also?
  
  as 4 t string, i think some tie a string with 8 threads, or 8 knots - for the ashTalakshmi, or the eight aspects of lakshmi (dhanalakshmi, gajalakshmi, vijayalakshmi etc). its better to understand it in a philosophical rather than a superstitious way - red is a reminder of lakshmi's grace falling on those who work hard for what they want (the blood of labor?), as well as the usual stuff - abundant riches, health etc etc. i dont keep the string on for the whole year, mostly coz it gets dirty after a while, but some ppl do, and even when they take it off, they dont throw it away but tie it to the branch of a mango tree or somethin.
  
  aruvAl, isnt vijayadasami the day durgai finally killed mahishAsuran after all that fighting?
  (watch the movie 'mupperum deviyar' abt the 'three devis' coming to the aid of their bhakthars down on earth.)
  
  this years panchangam says navarAtri starts on the 7th this year, with sarasvati pUjA on the 14th, and vijayadasami on the 15th.
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Thu Oct 10 11:21:40
  
  Aruvaal
  
  
  NNN:-) Yes thank you, That was informative, i think I am starting exams on the 16 so maybe you must remember me for the last 3 days:-) I think I saw that movie a long time ago. I should watch it again
  
  Kumaran
  
  F.H, I meant Forum hub, this thread, No I am not at wits, I work full time but studying Through UNISA, still undergrad though.
  
  I remember trying to keep the string clean as a Kid, when my mother washed her Thali in manja we did the strings too.
  
  I know the other story where Kali comes out of the Dhurgas brow and defeats a Baddie, is it related to this festival?
  
  
• From: Aruvaal (@ 203.106.188.113) on: Tue Oct 22 11:42:57
  
  Fridge, I just finished watching a National Geographical feature on a Tamil wedding in S. Africa, seen from the eyes of a Black. It was very interesting.
  
  I noticed a lot of similarities, as well as some major differences!
  
  1. I was taken aback with the practice of kissing which was so much abundant throughout the programme. I am not being judgemental, but had a cultural shock. :)
  Does it really happen?
  
  2. I noticed that almost everyone were in tears at the end of the wedding, as the Bride made way to her in-laws house. Is that common?
  
  3. Strangely the Bride's parents had Christian names, but the wedding was at a temple. Does this happen all the time?
  
  4. While the wedding was in progress, a young girl came on stage in front of the dais and started dancing to some Tamil songs! She was incredibly good. But this was strange to me. :)
  
  5. Everybody uses spoon and fork! :)
  
  The common things were nalungu (the bridesmaid gets smeared with santhanam too!), the elegant pattu podavai, the real beautiful koonthal alangarippu, the tying of the thaali, and some others.
  
  The entire thing was a fantastic experience to me. I was really happy to see our culture being practised in the far off land!
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Wed Oct 30 10:10:34
  
  Dear Aruvaal
  
  It is nice that you got a glimpse of my country.
  I will explain a few things that you you listed.
  
  1. "practice of kissing which was so much abundant throughout the programme"
  I have not seen a Tamil wedding in a while, but this is not common, It could have been doen fro the tv programme, I do not recollect the bridal couple ever kissing in a Tamil wedding.
  You may have seen other people kissing each other and the bridal couple, As most family members get together at weddings this is where you meet long lost family and it is like, Hello Ucca, Anney, marma, and haja and you will have every colour of lipstick on your face before you leave. The couple themselves get congradulated and kissed by all the guests, this would be a peck on cheek though.
  
  2. "everyone were in tears at the end of the wedding"
  Okay this is the drama part, yes this happens, At my cousins weddings I remember my uncles in a terrible state when their daughters left home, i think it will be the missing and besides that, Most Indian woman are treated very well by their fathers, and I think the hard life starts after marriage and that is why their parents weep.
  
  3. Names In S.A, Most people have a registered Tamil name, Appears on legal documents, but have another christian name, that people call them by. Or it could be that the people you saw on TV, had legal christian names. A lot of people do not have Tamil names anymore, Very sad.
  
  4. "a young girl came on stage in front of the dais and started dancing to some Tamil songs!"
  This is part of the entertainment at the reception, sort of keeping the culture going bit, sadly nobody ever gets up to join in the dancing.
  
  5. "Everybody uses spoon and fork! :)"
  Ha Ha, yes, most people use them. What happens at weddings in India?
  
  6. " nalungu "
  hey you guys have this too, I sat next to my aunt when she had hers, I remember i had to hand out the beetle leaf and beetle nut to all the people who smeared her face, i still never really get the meaning of this festival, you must tell me real significance.
  
  "elegant pattu podavai" ?
  
  "koonthal alangarippu" ?
  
  And does the couple in India plant stuff in the ground after the wedding, i have been asking this question forever, with no answers?
  
  
  
  
• From: Madurai Veeran (@ adsl-66-122-61-85.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Thu Oct 31 01:36:36
  
  Hello Ucca, Anney, marma, and haja and you will have every colour of lipstick on your face before you leave.
  
  What is marma? Is it uncle? Then it is mAmA.
  What is haja? Is it grandmother? Then it is AyA.
  Grandmother is more commonly called as pATi.
  
  By the way, what color lipstick marma and Anney wear :-)?
  
  Crying in the wedding is not a Tamil, or for that matter Indian, "Hindu" custom. Marriage is an auspcious occasion and you do not cry. Every one is supposed to be happy. But, arguments and fights are allowed :-).
  
  There is no such thing as entertainment, other than what the purohit (brahmana priest) provides during the wedding ceremony. Marriages are always held in morning. The ceremony starts at around 3:00 am and continues till 9:00 am. Then people argue and fight a bit, because they were ignored, or that their importance was not recognized.
  Then they all eat a sumptuous lunch, take a nap and argue and fight again. If you are rich, you arrange for an evening of entertainment - but this kind of thing is not common among the common folks.
  
  No forks and spoons. You eat with your hand. That has been Tamil custom. Of course, you wash your feet and hand clean.
  
  Nalangu? I think Punnahai can explain that. Now that I realize Punnahai is actually a she.
  
  pattu podavi - silk saree
  
  koonthal - long flowing hair
  alangarippu - ornamental decor
  
  During the wedding ceremony, there will be plant, which is supposed to signify the begining of a relationship. Yes, you take it and plant it. But, I don't think anyone really does it.
  
  
  And by the way, in a "Hindu" wedding there is no meat preparation. Does'nt matter what caste does the person belong to.
  
  
• From: sesh (@ netcache1-ctn.is.co.za) on: Thu Oct 31 15:01:44
  
  maam-uncle,father in law i think!
  aya is used quite commonly hear for grandmother.
  akka-big sister
  anney-sister in law.
  tamil weddings are not so long anymore. usally last about an hour.the practise of differnt castes/clans tying differnt thalis still occurs. can someone please tell me who uses what thalis?
  my mother has one that looks like a letter M. with numerous round pieces of gold next to it.
  
  
  
  
• From: Srini (@ 203.197.239.1) on: Thu Oct 31 22:58:52
  
  Dear MV:
  >>By the way, what color lipstick marma and Anney wear :-)?<<
  LOL ;-) reminds me of our recent times navarasam nayagan Ramarajan ! He even used Mascara in generous measures !!
  
  Dear fridge:
  >>A lot of people do not have Tamil names anymore, Very sad.<<
  It was as woonderful a post from you as always... BTW, Tamil names are not uncommon in SA alone, they are uncommon in Tamilnadu itself, with Sanskrit names becoming a norm than exception, including mine ! So, your lament could be more appropriate as demise of Indian names... since Sanskrit names and their derivatives have a pan Indian presence, covering Tamilnadu too, with next higher penetration perhaps, by Urdu.
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Fri Nov 1 09:43:29
  
  Madurai Veeran
  
  Thank you for the spell check, yes that is what I meant,
  
  About the times, who gets up at 03Am to get married and why so early?, If I were the bride i would miss my own wedding
  
  Yes the hair is always decorated with Red and white carnations(flower), Woman would normaly grow their hair in prepartion for their weddings, I hear that the decor on the hair can be pretty heavy as well.
  
  About the eating yes a lot of people still eat with their hands, Food on Banana leaves, but there is an increase in the usage of knives and forks these days.
  
  About the plant, I think it is some type of Seeds that they soak and then plant, My parents wedding photographs has that, Will check with my mother.
  
  BTW, By the way I saw a Tamil groom wearing a turban on their head and a sash across their shoulder, any explanation?
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Fri Nov 1 09:46:42
  
  Sesh
  
  There was another thread On F.H that covered a similar topic, will check for you.
  
  Srini
  I am glad that there is a bit of cultural awareness in S.A, we could see a change in the using of names.
  BTW, maybe I should also practice what I preach, what do you say for 'Fridge' in tamil;-)?
  
  
• From: Srini (@ netcache.spectranet.com) on: Sat Nov 2 09:23:10
  
  Dear fridge:
  >>what do you say for 'Fridge' in tamil;-)?<<
  I guess it is kuLir sAdhana petti I am not sure if it refers to both Fridge and Air Conditioner. MV may correct me if I am wrong...
  
  
• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Wed Nov 13 06:40:12
  
  Thank you Srini
  
  
• From: meena (@ ) on: Mon Mar 8 22:54:12
  
  Watch your favourite Tamil TV channels from India on www.numtv.com.email numtv@penta-media.com for a free trail.
  
  
• From: Ras (@ ) on: Tue Dec 7 05:20:23
  
  Mama is uncle- mother's brother.But some women call their father-in-law mama,I think this comes from the fact that according to Hindu(Tamil?)custom a woman is allowed to marry her mother's brother.
  Many people in South Africa call their grandmothers aya - but it seems aya means woman servant - the correct term for grandmother is parti.
  My pet hate is Tamil people giving children English names - too many in SA I'm sad to say.
  
  

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