Thanjavur Marathi Deshasthas (TMDs) celebrate a lot of festivals. It is of significance that the TMDs maintained all their festivals and rituals without it dwindling into oblivion. Not only that, festivals are celebrated with great fervour and rituals.
We may have wondered why we have heard our parents and grandparents stress and insist on festivals should be celebrated in only a particular way and we may have looked at our friends and wondered, " How come they don't have all these rules and rituals!?"
In retrospection, I think the reason behind this compulsion to do things in a particular way was
the necessity to nurture a civilization and culture and maintain its integrity as far as possible in another place, far removed from where our ancestors came from! And this joyful burden of maintaining the integrity of our culture was passed on generation to generation...until today, we can proudly state that indeed, we have maintained our identity as 'Thanjavur' Marathi Deshasthas!
More on what festivals the TMDs celebrate and details in my next post. Do refer to http://festnfood.blogspot.com/ for details on pujas and methods.
Hey, can you do one on Deshastha jewellry like the tikamani for instance?
ReplyDeleteAparna
Yes, of course. I have been working on this for sometime. In the meanwhile, can you tell me what 'tikamani' is..I am little lost! Thank you.
ReplyDeletehi pratibha..keep it up..
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