The Tamil beliefs play a big role when a woman gets pregnant. On the seventh or ninth month of pregnancy, Tamil woman go attend valaikappu, also known as the bangle ceremony. The woman's mother-in-law sets up an alter for the mother-to-be to sit infront of. Female atendees are expected to wear bangles that will be given as gifts. When the mother-to-be arrives, after all the other guests, she mingles for a bit until she is given her headress and saree from her own mother. She wears them and sits in front of the alter. Then, the other married, pregnant or expecting woman rub kumkum on her head and where her child is, sprinkle water on her hair, and add a flower to it. When all the woman are done, the have a feast. this ceremony is for the prosperity of the mother and her unborn child.
The three step process for the Tamil community is:
1. She removes herself from society by being taken away from mingling with her guests, and sitting in front of the alter in meditation.
2. She transitions during the applying og the kumkum.
3. She comes back into society during the feast, where she is then prepared to have a baby.
When someone dies in the Tamil community, they dress and bathe the body, usually befoe 24 hours after death, and then cremate it. The ashes are then gathered and taken to the cremation sight, where they pour out all the ashes, and then burn insence in fruit. Bone fragments and ashes are then collected in a small clay pot which is taken to the river. The ashes are then poured into the river. Before you pour the ashes though, it is expected that you offer milk, which is also poured into the river, and you must wash your hands.
The three step process for the Tamil community is:
1. She removes herself from society by being taken away from mingling with her guests, and sitting in front of the alter in meditation.
2. She transitions during the applying og the kumkum.
3. She comes back into society during the feast, where she is then prepared to have a baby.
When someone dies in the Tamil community, they dress and bathe the body, usually befoe 24 hours after death, and then cremate it. The ashes are then gathered and taken to the cremation sight, where they pour out all the ashes, and then burn insence in fruit. Bone fragments and ashes are then collected in a small clay pot which is taken to the river. The ashes are then poured into the river. Before you pour the ashes though, it is expected that you offer milk, which is also poured into the river, and you must wash your hands.