[Reader-list] aravani community in madurai

[priya babu]

  Documentation of Aravaani Community in Madurai District
  Priyababu
   
  The presence of Draupadi temples around Madurai, Paramakudi, Kumbakonam, Palayamkottai and Veeravanallur in Thirunelvelli came into existence during the reign of Thirumallai Nayakar and Krishnadeva Raayar. In Madurai itself the temple was established as a full-fledged place of worship in 1884. Within the Saurashtra Ghetto in Madurai there are three temples for Draupadi and each of these has a sanctum for Aravan. All these temples are administered by the community trusts. On the Aravan of Vaikasi month the festival is inaugurated and Villi Baratham is recited. The demographic count of this community, according to them, is about a third of the population of Madurai. As per their belief they claim that Aravaan has promised to stay with the losing party so that they may recover victory. Therefore during the Kurushetra war to keep Aravaan from join the Kauravas, Krishna plans his killing in the name of sacrifice. But the aravaani community does not patronize these temples as
 much as those existing in the Vanniyar belts. Aravan in these temples are worshipped on an everyday as any other deity.
   
  Aravaanis seem to frequent Aravaan temples around the areas like Pandikoyil, Madappuram Kalli Koyil, and Thaayamangalam. Members of this community reside in Munichchaalai, Avaniyapuram, Usilampatti, Thirubuvanam, Kalluppatti, Karmaathur, Therkkuvaasal, Bibikullam, and Thiruparamkundram in Madurai district. Most of them are involved in performing traditional folk art forms like Karakaattam, Oyil Attam, Oppari and Therukuttu. Some of them are chefs. Techniques that are exclusive to this community are breaking coconut on the head, chopping raw banana, swirling flaming torches while doing Karakaattam [dancing with a pot [karagam] on the head]. The Jamad system is very similar to the one in Hyderabad, which is referred to as Bade Haveli and Chotte Haveli. Jamad is almost like a regulatory body for the community, but frequented by members of the community and those adopted from the 'normal' society as pseudo-family members. 
  


 				
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