Monsoon Ragas : Tamil Nadu – Aadi Perukku
“For nine months drawing through sun’s rays, the sky drank the waters of the ocean, and the time now to give birth to a liquid offspring, the elixir of life. O Ram! The rain filled cloud has started pouring.” – Valmiki on monsoons in Ramayan
Monsoons have a significant role in the life of human beings, not only does it help life sustenance, it is an element that keeps fascinating rich and poor; educated and illiterate; man and woman; young and old. The four months of rains gives way to the lush green environment, fruiting flowering vegetation indicative of abundance, prosperity and fertility define the earth.
Called Varsha Ritu, rains have inspired many in different ways. There is very grand, nostalgic and poetic mention of Varsha Ritu in Indian myths, poetry, music, dance and paintings, which in turn has inspired festivities and rituals. In this new series we look at the different festivals and rituals that are associated with Indian monsoons and their significance.
We look at Tamilian ritual called Aadi Perukku in the first of the Monsoon Raagas.
Aadi Perukku is celebrated by Tamilians and is very popular monsoon festival. The festival is a thanksgiving festival to rains and rivers and is celebrated with traditional gaiety in Tamil Nadu.
The festival is celebrated on 18th of Aadi month in Tamil calendar year in gratitude to rains and water bodies. The Kaveri River, the lifeline of delta farmers, is worshipped in Salem, Erode Trichy and Thanjavur. The river is considered as the bride and the Sea bridegroom and rituals are conducted with great fanfare in delta region including Poompuhar.
Why worship monsoons?
Indian farmers are dependant on monsoons for their agriculture and rains play a vital role in cultivation as well as their livelihoods. One bad monsoon season will leave lakhs of people in farming communities jobless and in turn no food. It is peculiar situation wherein the person who supplied food for all will have to die of hunger if the monsoons fail.
Hence as a matter of respect and helping in livelihoods, the people celebrate Aadi Perukku in this part of the country. Usually South India witnesses rainfall from the month of June and will be effective for four months. Aadi masam (month of Aadi) according to Tamil calendar falls in July-August. On the 18th day of this month this festival is celebrated across the rice belt of the state.
On the 18th day of Aadi month it is believed that Kaveri River will be at its fullest. The river will be overflowing with rain water and it is said this is one of the beautiful times to look at the river. Aadi Perukku ritual or festival is celebrated near river banks, water basins, lakes and wells across the state of Tamilnadu.
The ritual is so important that people living far away from water bodies make it a point to go to the nearest water source like lake, river, pond, etc, invoke the Goddess river within it and perform the festivities.
It is mostly the farmers and other people who depend on the river celebrate this festival. They perform deeparadhana and present navedyam to the water body. Special poojas are performed in temples to Mother Kaveri and also to Rain God Varuna. The people are seen praying for good harvest, regular water supply and hassle free monsoons.
Usually a lamp prepared with rice flour and jaggery called Maavilakku is put on a mango leaf and set afloat by women. After setting the lamp afloat, turmeric and auspicious yellow thread is also put on them and then it is lit. Naivedyam is usually different kinds of rice items like pongal and pulihora. Entire family participates in this ritual and is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm.
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