[Reader-list] aravanis in madurai-june 2007

[priya babu]

Posting for june 2007- Priyababu .    
  In Madurai and adjoining villages during death ceremonies aravanis will be called to sing Oppari (Death songs).  Since none of the women were involved in this profession, people prefer calling aravanis to sing oppari songs. There was general belief among the public that Aravanis have female tone and don’t feel shy singing oppari songs.  If a person died in a particular house then the house will be called as Mattai by aravanis. In villages mattai means the coconut leaf in which the dead body will be placed and taken to the burial ground.
   
  Oppari will have standard lyrics. The aravanis who were invited to sing oppari will collect all the details about the person who died and will tailor the song (oppari) accordingly without changing the standard lyrics. In 90% of the death ceremonies aravanis will sing Nallathangal, a traditional folk song. There is a demand among general public for this Nallathangal folk song. There is general belief among the people that this Nallathangal, folk story is a real incident that happened in Virudhu Nagar district, Vathirairuppu taluk Achananpuram village. The story goes like this; Once upon a time there lived a brother (called Nallathambi) and a sister (called Nallathangal). Both of them were affectionate to each other. Years passed and Nallathangal attained puberty. 
   
  Nallathangal was married to Kasirajan, head of a village close to the place where Nallathambi and Nallathangal lived. Nallathangal and Kasirajan lived happily for several years and they had seven children. But things became worse soon, due to severe drought in the village. Kasirajan lost everything and the couples were left in the streets. Nallthangal decided to approach her brother Nallathambi for financial support but Kasirajan haven’t allowed her to do that. In spite of her husband’s wish Nallathangal went to meet her brother along with her 7 children unfortunately Nallathangal couldn’t able to see her brother since he went to forest for hunting. Nallathangal met her sister-in law and explained her about their family situation. But her sister-in law insulted Nallathangal and made her to leave from her house. Since there was no hope to live, Nallathangal committed suicide along with her children. 
   
  After a few days, Nallathambi returned home. Somehow through the villagers Nallathambi came to know the death of his sister and the reasons behind it. Nallathambi got angry and killed his wife later he also committed suicide. Kasirajan without knowing anything came to Nallathambi’s house to meet his wife and children. When Kasirajan heard the news of his wife’s death he was shocked and committed suicide. The moral behind this story is about brother, sister relationship and the importance of respecting husband’s word
   
  
  Thus, being the performers of Oppari songs, Aravanis are also included in the main stream society and also being acknowledged as women or even better than the biological females since Oppari is traditionally song by women. Thus, though Aravanis are still by and large kept at the margins of the society, inclusion of Aravanis in the mainstream society happen through some of the traditional customs like Oppari. 
   
   

 			
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