Chennai:
It was a sea of humanity on the shores of Mahabalipuram
as thousands of men, women and children from Irula community gathered to pay
obeisance to their goddess Kaniamma on a full moon day known as Masi Makkam.
The sound of waves could hardly be heard, as night on the
shores of Mahabalipuram wore a festiva look with shopkeepers selling wares to
the Irulas who are having a sort of reunion with tradition every year.
More than an estimated 25,000 people from the community,
including those in Andhra Pradesh, Krishnagiri, Salem and places nearby Chennai
gather on this occasion to pay obeisance to the goddess whom Irulas feel have
left them and came towards shore.
Forty-year-old Selvi, who is from the community, says
that the Irulas, who are from a matriarchal society, buy new vessels and cook
food prior to the morning where they offer the prayer to the goddess on the
beach.
The traditional rituals, which include symbolic building
of seven steps on sand and offering of seven coconuts and seven camphors, may
be old enough but the irony is will the gathering place of Irulas survive the
onslaught of urbanization. “This is a traditional land for Irulas. This is the
only festival which unites us. We want the government to protect it,” says
Selvi, who also belongs to Irula Tribal Women Welfare Society.
Interestingly, urbanization is also slowly eroding the
Irula culture, the once rat and snake catchers. It is also sowing the evils
which were absent in Irula culture. “Grooms are now demanding dowry which was
unheard of among Irulas,” says a shy looking Kathirvel.
“Earlier, a groom’s side gives a crowbar or a sickle to
the bride’s family but with the changing times grooms are demanding hefty
dowry,” says Kathirvel.
Interestingly, the Irulas living in coast and hills are
the backward lot and hardly has access to education. Selvi says a common man is
surprised if his child catches a snake but we Irulas are surprised if our
children get education.
But things are changing in the plains. At the festival
one could see educated well off irulas like Muthukumar who feel the community
in the plains is slowly losing its traditional culture. “Now inter-caste
marriages are happening and the well off Irulas refuse to claim themselves as
Irulas,” he says. He also attributes the dwindling of irulas in plains to the
government officials apathy to provide them with the community certificate.
“They deny us community certificate stating that we don’t know to catch rats
and snakes,” alleges Muthukumar.
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