The document provides an overview of the intangible cultural heritage of the village of Kovilur in Tamil Nadu, India. It discusses the customs and behaviors of the villagers, including their caste system, various festivals celebrated, local mythology and traditions. It also describes the sacred groves and trees worshipped in the village. The living patterns and life stages of the villagers from birth to death are also outlined. The document serves as an introduction to studying the intangible cultural aspects of the village.

1. INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
A R C H I T E C T U R A L A N T H R O P O L O G Y - T H R U S T A R E A S T U D Y
SHARON SHERANI DANIEL
B,ARCH II YR IV SEM
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
DR. MGR EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

2. MARCUS GARVEY
A Bit of Inspiration
"A people without the knowledge of
their past history, origin and culture is
like a tree without roots"

3. I N T A N G I B L E C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E | 2 0 2 0
KOVILUR - BRIEF
CUSTOMS AND BEHAVIOR
CASTE SYSTEM
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
MYTHOLOGY
LITTLE TRADITIONS
SACRED GROOVES
LIVING PATTERN & LIFE STYLE
PRESENTATION FLOW
TOPICS FOR STUDY

4. I N T A N G I B L E C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E | 2 0 2 0
THE GREAT SHIVAN TEMPLE
PERUMAL TEMPLE
AMMAN TEMPLE
MAARIAMMAN TEMPLE
KAPLAAMPAADI AMMAN TEMPLE
MALAYANAR AMMAN TEMPLE
DHIROUBATHI AMMAN TEMPLE
SRI SAPPAANI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE
GANGAI AMMAN TEMPLE
AMAICHARAMMAN TEMPLE
ANACHINEYAR TEMPLE
EARIKARAIPONNI AMMAN TEMPLE
'KO' MEANS "ARASAN" IN TAMIL.
SAYS, ' ARASAN AANDA UUR' - THE KING WHO REIGNED THE VILLAGE
ALSO AS THE NAME SAYS, THE VILLAGE HAS SO MANY TEMPLES. NEARLY 13
TEMPLES
THE VILLAGE IS LOCATED IN THIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT NEAR CHEYYAR
TOWN OF TAMIL NADU
IT COMES UNDER GRAM PANCHAYAT AS OF 2009 STATS WITH TAMIL AS
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
ETYMOLOGY
KOVILUR- BRIEF

5. THE VILLAGERS WELCOME THEIR GUESTS AND WISH THEM. FIRSTLY, THEY OFFER THEM
WATER TO DRINK
THEY REGULARLY SWEEP THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE AND SANITIZE WITH COW DUNG.
THEY DECORATE THEIR FLOORS WITH RICE FLOUR 'KOLAMS'
THE DO POOJAS AT HOME ON A DAILY BASIS AND CIRCUMBULATE TULSI PLANT WHICH IS A
PART OF THEIR WORSHIP
CUSTOMS AND BEHAVIOR
CUSTOMS - The repetition of same behavior or
practice which has become a pattern of living.
THE RESPECT AND BLINDLY BELIEVE THE EDUCATED AS THE VILLAGERS ARE ILLITERATES
THEY HELP EACH OTHER FAMILIES AND LEND HANDS AT TIMES OF TROUBLES
THEIR LIFE IS CONFINED AS THE PEOPLE TEND TO GOSSIP AND EVERYONE KNOWS
EVERYBODY
THE VILLAGERS ARE GENEROUS AND HOSPITABLE. THEY SHARE WHAT THE LITTLE THEY HAVE
WITH OTHERS
THEIR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL BONDS ARE VERY STRONG
BEHAVIOR - Human conduct relative to social
norms according to their act

6. AGAMUDAYAARS
KARAIYAARS
SENGUNTHARS
VELLALARS
THE VILLAGERS PREDOMINANTLY BELONG TO THE MUDALIAR CASTE
'MUDALIAR'- MUDAL + YAAR WHICH MEANS "HEADMAN" OFFICIALLY A
HIGH RANK IN THE SOCIETY
TAMIL MUDALIARS ARE OF FOUR TYPES
OUT OF WHICH 'AGAMUDAYAAR' & ' SENGUNTHARS' LIVE IN KOVILUR
AGAMUDAYAARS- HOUSE HOLDERS OR LAND HOLDERS
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO DO AGRICULTURE FOR LIVING
SENGUNTHARS- TRADITIONAL WEAVING COMMUNITY. 'RED SPEAR
PEOPLE' AS NAME SAYS ARE DEVOTEES OF LORD MURUGAN
THEY ARE HIGH RANKING NON BRAHMINS
MUDALIAR - SOCIAL CLASS
CASTE SYSTEM

7. FESTIVAL CELEBRATED ON THE FULL MOON DAY OF MONTH THAI. HIGHLIGHT IS 'KAVADI' - ' KAVADI BEARERS'
THEY CARRY POTS OF RICE OR MILK AND WALK ALL THE WAY TO THE TEMPLE
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
THAIPUSAM
'SURASAMHARAM BATTLE' ( LORD MURUGAN KILLS SURAN ). PEOPLE FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES ENACTING THE
CHARACTERS. IT IS CELEBRATED FOR 6 DAYS AND THE CRACKERS ARE BURST ON THE LAST DAY
THE WHOLE CELEBRATION ENDS WITH 'MURUGAN THIRU KALYANAM' AT ESHWARAN TEMPLE
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
DIWALI
CELEBRATED GRANDLY IN THE TAMIL MONTH THAI, THE MATTU PONGAL IS CELEBRATED FOR 2 DAYS. PEOPLE
BRING ALL THEIR BULS AND BULLCARTS AND GO AROUND THE PERUMAL TEMPLE TWICE
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
PONGAL

8. PONGAL CELEBRATION
DIWALI CELEBRATION
THAIPOOSAM CELEBRATION
SURYA POOJA BULL RACE
CRACKERS THIRU KALYANAM
KAVADI THAIPOOSA MURUGAN

9. MYTHOLOGY
THE SHIVA LINGA OF THE GREAT SHIVA TEMPLE IS BELIEVED TO GROW EVERY
YEAR
THE NEEM TREE AT THE END OF THE VILLAGE HAS MANY SUPERSTITIOUS
STORIES. UNMARRIED WOMEN/ MEN WHO GO NEAR THE TREE WILL FALL SICK
AND DIE
TIEING SMALL SWINGS UNDER THE PEEPAL TREE AT AMMAN TEMPLE BLESSES
THE PEOPLE WITH FERTILITY AND GIVE THEM OFFSPRINGS
PEOPLE GOING NEAR THE OLD BANGLOW ARE BELIEVED TO DIE OUT OF FEAR
NEEM LEAVES ARE BELIEVED TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS AND DEMONS
THE AYYANAR AT THE ENTRANCE OF VILLAGE PROTECTS FROM ENTRY OF EVIL
SPIRITS
Collection of traditional stories of peoples
origin, history, deity, ancestors or sacred
narratives

10. SMALL LAMPS 'VELAKKU' ARE LIT AND PLACED IN THE NICHE OF
WALLS AND ON 'THINNAIS'
THE THRESHOLD OF THE HOUSES ARE SMEARED WITH RED AND
YELLOW PASTES 'KUNGUMAM & MANJAL'
SACRIFICING ANIMALS FOR FAMILY GODS ' KULA DEIVAMS'
WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO TEMPLES OR DO POOJAS
DURING THEIR MENSURATION ESPECIALLY VIRGIN WOMEN
LOCAL DEITIES - 'AYYANARA' LOCAL HERO PROTECTS THE VILLAGE
WOOD ASH 'VIBHUTHI' AND NEEM LEAVES REPEL EVIL SPIRITS
Formal illerate tradition of rural living
people in relation to their folklores and
myths
LITTLE TRADITIONS
VELLAKU
BHALI
VASAKAAL
KANNI PEN SAAMI ADITHAL

11. FOLLOWING TRADITIONS, OF NATURE WORSHIP, TREES ARE
CONSIDERED AS "ADOBE OF GODS"
PEEPAL TREE, NEEM TREE, TAMARIND TREES ARE CONSIDERED
SACRED AND IDENTIFIED WITH RED OR YELLOW CLOTH TIED
AROUND
ACCORDING TO THIS VILLAGE, SACRED TREES ARE PRESENT AT EVERY
TEMPLE AND ALMOST ALL HOUSES AT THE BACKYARD
ITS MANAGEMENT CUSTODY BELONGS TO THE RESPECTIVE FAMILIES
THE TREES AT THE TEMPLES ARE SMEARED WITH RED AND YELLOW
PASTE 'KUNGUMAM AND MANJAL' AND DECORATED WITH
GARLANDS OF LEMON
Ancient practice of tree worship
SACRED GROOVES

12. BIRTH OF THE BABY- THOTIL CEREMONY
FIRST BIRTHDAY OF BABY- MOTTAI AND KAATHUKUTTHU
CEREMONY
LEARNING STAGE - FIRST LETTER IN RICE
ADOLESCENT GIRL AT PUBERTY - MANJAL NEER CEREMONY
YOUNG GIRL - MARRIAGE CEREMONY
PREGNANT WOMAN - VALAYAL CEREMONY
WIDOW WOMEN- CLEANSING CEREMONY
OLD WOMAN - DEATH CEREMONY
THE WEDDING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE FOR 3 DAYS. SOPHISTICATED
FAMILIES GIFT THE WOMAN WITH GOLD OR LAND
THE MOURNING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE FOR 2 DAYS. THEN THE
RITUALS HAPPEN ACCORDING TO CASTE`
WOMENHOOD
LIVING PATTERN AND LIFE STYLE

13. THANK YOU
-SHARON SHERANI DANIEL