The Life of Tamil Women

Over the years that we have written this blog we have written many articles that deal with the life of Tamil Women. So I created this page to make these articles more visible and easier to find.

Women’s Poojas

Women are restricted in  many ways in their temple worship. There are some rites and celebrations that are particularly feminine, and for women. I show several of them here.

Women at special Navratri Pooja

Navratri Mornings at Ramanasramam Pooja for women
Thiruvilakku Pooja in Tiruvannamalai Group pooja women
Navratri Scenes in Tiruvannamalai Women’s worship of the Divine Feminine
Special Celebration for the Rain Goddess Mariamman Worship of Village mother goddess

Rites of Passage

The life of a Tamil woman is marked by a series of rites of passage, starting from before they are born until after they die. Most of these are joyous, some just break your heart, like the stripping of the jewelry of a married woman after the death of her husband (shown in the Kariyam posting).

Dressing up during coming of age ceremony

Bangle Ceremony for an Expectant Mother Two months before birth
Tamil Baby Naming–The Thottil Ceremony Soon after birth
Kadhani Vizha – Tamil Ear Piercing Ceremony Usually about two years old
Age Attained Ceremony: a Girl becomes a Woman, Tiruvannamalai Family celebration of first menses, when a girl becomes a woman.
Tamil Coming of Age – Manjal Neerattu Vizha  Public celebration of the first menses. The new “woman” is introduced to the community.
South Indian Village Wedding Wedding of Tamil man and woman.
Wedding in Tiruvannamalai of a Western woman and Indian man Wedding of Tamil man and Western woman.
Our Friend Sarasvati Attains Mahasamadhi on Vaikunta Ekadasi A woman’s body passes …
Taking Sarasvati’s ashes to the river Taking woman’s ashes to disperse in a river
South Indian Village Shraddha After-Death ceremony for a woman
A Kariyam, a Tamil Death Ceremony After-death ceremony for new widow

School and Children

Women, their children and their schooling are things shared by women worldwide. Life for Tamil women is not so different.

Leaving for the first day of school

Back to School in Tiruvannamalai Summer Vacation is over, back to school today.
Helping Poor Kids in Tiruvannamalai Get Ready for the New School Year A nonprofit trust helps kids get supplies for new school year.
HeartKids Annual Awards Function, Tiruvannamalai Awards and performances at a local school.
Indian Independence Day Celebrated at Tiruvannamalai School Parade and kids performances at local school

Home and Family

The Tamil woman’s life, especially in the many villages and small towns, is centered on home and family. In India these are often marked by various rites and ceremonies. Usually the participants in these are just family – but Indian families, their extended families, can be quite large. These posts show some family functions as well as the rites associated building a new home for the family.

Woman decorating gop for family celebration

Family Feast in Gondapatai Village, Tamil Nadu Annual Family worship and celebration
Family Puja at Nadananthal Village, near Tiruvannamalai Family celebration, and boy’s first haircut
Bhoomi Puja before building a house near Tiruvannamalai Pooja done before construction starts on new house
Lintel Pooja while building new house Pooja done during house construction, when raising the main door’s lintel
Ganesh Puja for the New House Pooja done before occupying new house

Various Women’s Topics

People in Old Age Home

A “New” Old Age Home in Tiruvannamalai Conditions of village women
Visiting the Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society Tribal women helping themselves

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