Thousands of Students Gather for 'Aadi Perukku' Festivities at Dr MGR Janaki Women's College
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Thousands of students at Dr. MGR Janaki Women's College in Tamil Nadu recently participated in the Aadi Perukku celebration, a traditional Tamil festival that honours rivers and expresses gratitude for nature.
The event was a replication of indigenous village celebrations, with students donning half-sarees and sarees, and performing traditional folk dances such as Devarattam, Karakattam, Puliyaattam, Oyilattam, Sakkaiyaattam, Poikaal Kuthiraiyaattam, Mayilattam, and Dance Drama. Special children also took part in the occasion, performing a dance during the festivities.
In keeping with the festival's emphasis on water worship, students floated lamps in a small pond, symbolically reenacting the traditional practice of floating lamps in rivers during Aadi Perukku. The celebration also included the worship of 'mulaipari,' where students carried earthen pots filled with sprouts from nine different types of grains and legumes.
A variety of 'chitrannam' was served, including different varieties of rice such as lemon rice, tamarind rice, and coconut rice. The event also featured talks on traditional Tamil practices, music, and dance forms, as well as experts discussing the social, cultural, and environmental significance of the festival.
Dr. Kumar Rajendran, Chairman of Dr. MGR Janaki College for Women, emphasised the importance of preserving tradition and roots for human progress and peace. He stated that celebrations like Aadi Perukku can help younger generations understand Tamil culture and pass it on to future generations.
The event also included a 'sandhai' concept with stalls managed by students, which was aimed at nurturing their marketing and entrepreneurial skills. While there is no direct detailed report about the exact schedule or unique practices at Dr. MGR Janaki Women's College in the search results, it is common for educational institutions in Tamil Nadu to perform collective prayers, cultural events, and community feasts aligned with these customary Aadi Perukku rituals focused on water worship, nature, and feminine worship themes.
[1] Tamil Nadu Tourism [2] The Hindu [3] India.com [4] Wikipedia
- Engaging in cultural-travel to Tamil Nadu could provide an opportunity to witness the unique lifestyle and home-and-garden practices, such as the Aadi Perukku festival, that showcase the region's rich heritage and connection with nature.
- The Aadi Perukku festival, a blend of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, offers a platform for understanding Tamil culture and its importance in fostering human progress and peace.
- Travelers and enthusiasts of home-and-garden, lifestyle, and education-and-self-development might find it rewarding to explore various talks on traditional Tamil practices, music, and dance forms as part of their travel itinerary in Tamil Nadu.
