Identifier: castestribesofso06thuruoft (find matches)
Title: Castes and tribes of southern India. Assisted by K. Rangachari
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Thurston, Edgar, 1855-1935 Rangachari, K
Subjects: Caste -- India Madras (Presidency) Ethnology -- India Madras (Presidency) India -- Social conditions
Publisher: Madras Government Press
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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-ing couple. Rings are put on their second toes by thebrother-in-law of the bridegroom and the maternal uncleof the bride. Towards evening, the sacred thread, thethreads which have been tied to the marriage potsand the milk-post, and grain seedlings used at the cere-mony, are thrown into the sea. Some Pattanavans allowa couple to live together as man and wife after thebetrothal, but before the marriage ceremony. This is,however, on condition that the latter is performed assoon as it is convenient. The remarriage of widows isfreely permitted. No marriage pandal is erected, andthe bridegroom, or a female relation, ties the tali onthe brides neck within the house. Such marriage is,therefore, called naduvittu (interior of the house) tali.When a woman, who has been guilty of adultery, isremarried, a turmeric string is substituted for the goldentali, and is tied on the brides neck by a woman. Some Pattanavans have adopted the custom of bury-ing their dead in a seated posture (samathi). If a
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PATTAXA\\\N. 185 PATTANAVAN corpse is crenicited, fire is carried to the burning-ground by a barber. When the corpse has been laid on the pyre, rice is thrown over it. The son, accompanied by a barber and a Panisavan or washerman, and carrying a pot of water on his shoulder, goes thrice round the pyre. At the third round, the Panisavan or washerman makes holes in the pot, and it is thrown away. On the day of the funeral, all the agnates shave their heads. On the following day, they go to the burial or burning ground with tender cocoanuts, milk, cakes, etc., and Arichandra, who presides over the burial-ground, is worshipped. Milk is then poured over the grave, or the remains of the bones, which are thrown into the sea. On the night of the fifteenth day, Panisavans blow the conch and horn, and red cloths are presented to the widow of the deceased by her relations. At about 4 A.M., a white cloth is thrown on her neck, and the tali string is cut by an old woman. The tali is removed theref

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