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A culture sojourn in Tuticorin

Solaiappan Swamy Temple in tuticorin

My second post on clan deities.

It was my niece’s ear piercing ceremony which is normally done when the kid turns one year old. This ceremony is celebrated in the presence of friends, relatives at the clan temple and the  kid’s head is tonsured after which the ear’s are pierced. Each temple and cult has it’s own story to narrate as regards it’s culture and traditions.

I walked into the stone carved Solaiappan Swamy Temple in Kattunaickenpatti which is in the Tuticorin district of Tamilnadu. This was my sister’s clan deity post marriage. Hoards of people had come to pay respect to the omnipotent.

Symbolic Cradles

Symbolic Cradles

Devotees who wish to have a child, tied a piece of cloth as a symbol of cradle in the temple premises.  The uniqueness of this God is that the body parts of the Lord are in different temples. Head, Feet and the rest of the body are separately found in different temples across Tamilnadu. In this temple only his feet are worshipped.

 

Newly tonsured

Newly tonsured

Tonsuring of a child is a celebrated affair in Hindu custom. The child is made to sit on the maternal uncle’s lap after which the shaving is done. Later the ears are pricked and the child is made to wear gold ear rings for the first time.

 

Traditional Cooking near the temple

Traditional Cooking near the temple

 

Animal sacrifices of Goat, Chicken is prevalent in this temple and food for the relatives is cooked and served close to the temple.

Girl with Hibiscus

Girl with Hibiscus

I saw this girl with a Hibiscus flower adorning her hair in the temple. The flower intrigued me as I had never seen anyone wearing a Hibiscus flower and she obliged me couple of shots.

Have you ever been part of a child’s head tonsuring affair? Do the customs differ in comparison to Tamil traditions ?

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5 Comments on “A culture sojourn in Tuticorin

  1. Hi do you have more photos of the temple,, especially sculptures.. Do you know the history of this temple like when it was build

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