Being from CAVERY delta region, we celebrate AADI PERUKKU every year without fail. In my hometown we call it as PADINETTAM PERUKKU-PADINETTU means “EIGHTEEN” & PERUKKU means “RISING”. This is a unique Tamil festival which is celebrated on Tamil month of AADI 18th day.
The aadi peruku is a WATER RITUAL, we considered water as a sacred necessity to all individuals and began to start worship in the form of river, even wells and tanks too. Mainly on river those who couldn’t find the river nearby they can do the offerings in the nearby SEA. “POOMBUKAR” is famous for this festival.
The RISING signifies here is the overflowing of rivers like KAVERI during monsoon rains, by means of people who depend on the rivers and the monsoon rains for their livelihood started worship MOTHER KAVERI in the form of GODDESS in the banks of the rivers. Later on most of the people from DELTA region families migrated to cities and some other places for their jobs and needs following the same region and family tradition of celebrating this AADI PERUKKU is the one major reason for this FESTIVAL publicity.
CUSTOMS:
HOW TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY?
Based on my family custom I’m sharing my experience. In addition you guys always take your elders advice at your home before proceeding.
We don’t perform MULAIPARI.
Since we consider this occasion as an auspicious, in my hometown we have certain good things need to perform on this special day
- Newly married couple invited to the BRIDE’S family and given special gifts on that day
- We have some special custom called “MALAI VIDUTHAL” means newly married couple needs to send the garlands (which was worn on the day of marriage) to the banks of the river.
- Post marriage we perform one more spl custom during this time called “THALI PIRICHI PODUTHAL” (change the bride’s THALI KAYIRU (yellow rope) to CHAIN (thali saradu), if not -they will add some new coins(thali ADD-ONS) to the MANGALSUTRA (THALI))
- Perform the Pooja ( varies from region to region, take elder’s advice), girls and women in the family need to wear the yellow thread ( available in the market/ apply turmeric paste over a white thread, allow it to dry and keep it ready )
ABOUT FOOD:
Since this celebration takes place mostly in the banks of the river, people has to prepare the food a little earlier. So they started making variety rice (kind of TRAVEL food) which helps to keep the food for a little longer time. Some of the famous food varieties are
- SAKARAI PONGAL
- PULIYODHARAI
- LEMON RICE
- COCONUT RICE
- CURD RICE
- MEDHU VADAI
- MASAL VADAI
