Indian traditions have awed each and every one of us through their uniqueness and interesting ritualistic highlights. Hitting puberty is still treated as misogyny in many pockets of Indian village zones as well as metropolitan cities.Contrasting to the harsh response projected on this sensitive matter of womanhood, the traditions of South India would awe you even more. Their heartwarming approach to celebrating woman is quite commendable, as reviewed by the top 10 photographers in South India.
We are talking about the puberty ceremony and celebrations in Tamil Nadu. The extended rituals and beautiful Tamil traditions stir our hearts with the respect and care, a woman desires during their first menstrual cycle. We are beyond excited to take you through the ‘coming of age ceremony’ or ‘Manjal Neerattu Vizha’ of the very gorgeous Ananda Sasmita! Sit back and relax as we break down the highlights of Tamil Nadu’s Manjal Neerattu Vizha ceremony!
An Overview
The ‘coming of Age’ ceremony of Tamil Nadu is a symbol of paying respect to the struggles and challenges faced by young women with the strike of puberty. Most importantly, Tamil Puberty ceremony photos like these focus on empowering the glory of womanhood. And, it also boosts the confidence and courage of young girls to battle with the brand-new challenges they shall face in the future.
Ananda’s family organized a special event filled with lovely event decor and mouth-watering delicacies. Undoubtedly, the highlights of the Tamil Hindu puberty ceremony include the amazing ambiance filled with garden-fresh pooja necessities and temple flowers. Ananda looked like a diva in her brand new Manjal Neerattu Vizha portraits flaunting her henna-stained hands and crisp silk saree outfit!
A Samskara
With the presence of close family and friends, the main event is conducted to celebrate the occasion with so much love and joy! Manjal Neerattu Vizha is considered to be a ‘Samskara’. A Samskara is an event that has ritualistic and religious importance in the Hindu Culture. Unlike the other ceremonies that are guarded and guided by the priests (mostly men), Manjal Neerattu Vizha is performed majorly by the women in the family.
The puberty period begins from the age of 13 for most women. The Tamil girl wears a gorgeous silk saree paired with heirloom jewelry or freshly purchased gold jewels. At the event, the girl is surrounded by her younger girl companions to celebrate the occasion together with grand gifts. Manjal Neerattu Vizha is performed during other auspicious occasions as well, such as pregnancy, weddings etc.
The Ceremony
Begun with a pooja on the idol, the saffron red kumkum is placed on the idol first and then on the young girl who just hit puberty. Followed by which a freshly prepared paste of turmeric herbal mix for puberty ceremony is smeared on the forearms, forehead and cheeks of the girl.
The festivities are concluded with some other rituals. And, finally placing the kumkum once again on her forehead to protect from evil eyes. Added to that, the ceremony would consist of the guests taking turns to smear the turmeric herbal paste along with showering the lots and lots of valuable gifts.
The Aim
As per the records, ’Manjal Neerattu Vizha’ has been carried out for centuries and the array of events and functions used to be much more elaborated during those timeframes. To explain, the girl would be treated with special care for 10 to 12 days during her menstruation period. And, the other women from her family would assist her in her daily routine with divine essentials.
Added to that, the meals served to her would be enriched with nutrients and all the required vitamins to combat the new physical and mental health changes she would be dealing with. Most importantly, the festivities are taken to the same importance as that of a wedding. Thereby, celebrating it as a happy occasion rather than discarding it with the associated taboos of Coming-of-Age ceremony.
The History
In the previous decades when telephonic and internet services weren’t invented yet, the ‘coming of age’ news of the women in the family is informed to the relatives and acquaintances through letters, all across the village. Clearly, this helps to recognize the woman as a person who has entered the ‘fit for marriage age’. Thereby, the family expects to receive wedding proposals from eligible men since the Manjal Neerattu Vizha.
However, customs like this have been disappearing with the spurt of modernist arguments and ideologies of the 20th-century youth. The celebrations mentioned above are often held on the ninth day of hitting puberty in families who still follow the traditional system and associated rituals.
We hope that you had a great time flipping through the lovely South Indian traditions of Tamil Nadu. Lively colors in warm tones and the energetic aura we felt at the venue are beyond explanation. Here, we have targeted on unveiling the most interesting snapshots and details of the ritual to give a complete walkthrough of the pooja. Traditions like these never fail to amaze us with their uniqueness. And, we feel thrilled to the brim as we record and document each and every special moment! More than anything else, the rich heritage we explore in the Tamil Hindu culture makes us feel more grounded and connected to mother nature.