Introduction

This blog strives to keep alive key cultural and religious practices, particularly those associated with religious festivals and social ceremonial events. These are based on extensive documentation that my mother Mrs Hemalatha Padmanabhan has on different occasions done at my behest and now, my daughter, Tara's request, so that we can keep alive whatever we can of the traditional cultural practices of Iyers of North Arcot district, Tamil Nadu.

This is no claim of superiority or exclusivity of any kind nor am I a fiercely proud chest-thumping casteist.

This is only an attempt to keep some voices from dying out and passing on the experience of a fast disappearing generation for whom these practices were life-defining. 

These are being documented to perpetuate childhood memories of a way of living that was founded on a sound base of discipline, regulated living, notions of duty, connectedness to a past tradition, and a sense of connectedness to nature, seasons, the environment and indeed the cosmic movements. These childhood memories and these practices became a part of me, and added layers of essential human values to my character.

To be honest, many of these are inconvenient and difficult to practice and I have personally, over time, given up most of those I had once started practising as an adult. But my respect for the way of life and for the values they taught me remain and hence this documentation may also be called my kritangyata journey, my ritual of gratitude.