Kala Shreen: Socio-cultural Dynamics of Tamil Rituals: Nagarathar Rites of Passage
This paper focuses on select rites of passage of the Nagarathar community, which originated from Tamilnadu. These ceremonies have not been in practice since the early twentieth century and are seeing a revival among contemporary Nagarathar families. The examination of Nagarathar rites of passage bring to light various dimensions of ritual performances, such as structure, functions, symbolism and meanings and things necessary for the ritual production. These ceremonies are governed by several factors and rules of protocol such as Tamil ritual calendar, prescribed format comprising three broad phases – the preparatory phase, the performance phase and the post performance phase, segmentation of the ceremonial performance into several ritual acts, mandatory participation of designated kin members and so on. The performers and participants in the rituals can be classified into three categories based on their level of participation. This classification is being developed into the model of “three circles” which discusses the role and nature of these performers. The ceremonies exhibit intra-cultural variations in the ritual acts as well as in the symbolism attached to it. The ceremonies function as a mechanism for socialization and community cohesion and as a way of demonstrating and enacting their ethnic identity.
Various elements of material culture such as sacred objects, ritual implements, ethnic jewellery and food, festive decorations, traditional attire and ceremonial music and songs play a vital role during the performance of the ceremonies and in the creation of the religious ritualistic aesthetics and cultural identity among the Nagarathars.
Continuities and transformations are evident in various aspects of the ceremonies. For example, certain ritual acts which were part of the ceremonies in ancient times are now removed, truncated or modified. Continuative and transformative characteristics are also visible in the material aspects of the performances. These reflect the influence of the Nagarathar diaspora and the changing economic status of the Nagarathars.
Synopsis of docufilm “Return of the Rituals” – English – (28 mins).Scripted and Directed by: Dr. Kala Shreen M.S.(USA), Ph.D.
The film captures three rites of passage of Nagarathar children, namely, pudumai, supidi and thiruvadirai, which had not been in practice since early twentieth century and are seeing a revival in contemporary times. It captures various essential elements of Tamil religious rituals including, but not limited to, dependence of the ritual performance on the Tamil ritual calendar, the ritual acts, kin members and ritual objects and things required for the performance of the ceremonies. The film comprises interviews with select elderly Nagarthars, who narrated their experiences of the past. The film also consists of indigenous songs of the community that were documented and tunes were choreographed for them.
Biographical Statement:
Kala currently works as the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty of Dept. of Sociology at MOP Vaishnav College for Women, (affiliated with University of Madras) Chennai, India. She is also the Initiator/Director of Cultural Dynamics and Emotions Network (CDEN) at Queen’s University Belfast, U.K. Her principal research interests include religion, diaspora, rituals, emotions, visual culture, community studies and development. Her research has been sponsored by Charles Wallace India Trust, London in 2007 and Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada and International Council for Canadian Studies in 2008. She received an award for international scholars from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion in the U.S. in 2006 to present a paper on the Nagarathars at their Annual Conference. Her documentary film ‘Little Traditions of Tamilnadu’ was screened at Rice University and University of Houston, U.S.A. in 2005 and in Queen’s University Belfast, U.K. in 2006 accompanied by lectures on ‘Sidewalk Hinduism’. She has also scripted and directed a documentary film and authored a book “Return of the Rituals: Rites of Passage of Nagarathar Children” in 2009. One of her recent article is “The Social Function of Religion: A Case of the Nattukottai Chettiars” in International Research Journal of Social Sciences, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 2, July/Dec, p 65-75.
