We Tamizhians have a very strong attachment towards our TAMIL language, but that alone is not enough to keep our tradition alive which is as beautiful as our language. We should know about our unique tradition and ensure we pass this on to our future generation; unfortunately, no one finds time to share this and pass this on. In this article, I am going to touch and share a mix of what I know and what I have experienced in my life about one such adorable culture called “SEER VARISAI” (சீர்வரிசை). There will be few differences in the customs followed based on certain caste/community; what I have tried to capture here are most commons ones.
SEER is exchange of presents, pleasantries and pay-return respect between relations for different occasions in life. It is such a beautiful tradition that our ancestors designed to ensure there is constant connect between relations through multiple customs & occasions over different stage of life.
SEER VARISAI is the way of bonding for a boy child or a girl child (most often), throughout his/her entire life, with his/her parents, brothers, sisters, maternal uncles and paternal aunties. There is different set of seer for different occasions in life.
I am going to break down the different set of seers across most important occasions in life of a girl or boy child; I will start with marriage and the cycle will continue: -
- Marriage – marriage has a lot of pre-and-post customs & occasions where seers are a must; here are a list of such marriage customs; click on each of them to expand and see the seer details for each of these occasions
- Betrothal / Engagement
- Pandha Kaal
- Nalungu
- Actual Marriage
- Bridge/Groom Azhaippu (post wedding)
- All major festivals during the 1st marriage year
- Pregnancy
- 5th month (Marunthu kuduthal)
- Valaikappu
- Seemantham
- POST-Delivery
- Punyahavachanam/Namakarnam - Thottil podudhal (naming ceremony/ crib pacifying function)
- Kuzhandayai Kondu Viduthal
- Ayush Homam
- 1st Birthday
- Ear Piercing & Birth Hair removal ceremony
- Puberty
- Grahapravesam
Good explanation…useful info for young generation like us..could u pls explain for valakappu.. function is hosted by whom…and if mother’s parents brings seer varisai thattu..after function who owns and distributes….similarly…who prepares thambulam for valakappu…can u explain in some blog procedures like seer to be given and thambulam to be given by whom in which occassion
hi priya, sorry for delay response.
congratulations first of all…
for valakappu, it should be hosted by groom’s family. girl’s family need to bring seer varisai at the end of the function, the seer varisai belong to boy’s family.The return gift, thambulam and other mandatory things which i mentioned in the seer procedure everything need to bring from girl’s side.
thank you.
Kindly update seer varisai for thiru Kalyanotsava m for perumal and sivan
Hi sir,
thanks for going thru’ my blog.
i will collate the necessary details and get back to you.Since this is temple related function, i will check the details from our family priest and will update it soon.
It’s very useful to us .especially youngsters knows our tradition
Thank you Kalai Selvam
Can you please explain seer varisai thattu for pongal
Hi Sneha,
Pl find the below link
https://kanmaniskitchen.com/2017/07/20/post-wedding-seer-for-the-1st-year/
Thank you
Can you please let me know about akka veetu seer for brother’s house warming ceremony…
Hi Devasena – Please find the details
manjal, kungumam, vetrillai-paaku, poo, pazham, dress for your brother and sister-in-law and kuthuvilakku set (silver or brass based on your preference or your family custom).
Please find the below link for further reference – https://kanmaniskitchen.com/2017/07/20/grahapravesam/
Hi… For my nephew wedding, instead of doing atthai nalanggu, can i just prepare seer thathu on nalanggu day or wedding day?
Hi,
Athai Nalungu is one of the most important nalungu; try to do it before marriage as per your family custom.
if you are not able to do that, then get advise from your family elders for alternate.
Thank you