|
Customs and Traditons
In Tamil Nadu, kinship is in its most developed form and is founded
on a number of basic units. The first unit is the nucleus of the
family, consisting of father, mother and their children. The second unit
is the joint family of two or three generations of a segment of
lineage - grand father, grandmother, their married sons and their wives
and children or in some cases, groups of brothers and their families using
resources in common and often eating jointly and having common residence.
The next unit is formed out of marriage attachment to wife's relation.
Customs and traditions of each caste keep the kin
together. Kinship is noticed at birth, puberty, marriage, death and annual
ceremony. Marriage is usually confined to eligible spouse within the caste.
In Tamil folklore attachment to persons related through
the wife or the mothers is great and they are trusted a good deal. The
'maman' or maternal uncle has prescribed duties to perform at social functions.
On occasions like the naming of a child, or a marriage, the maternal
uncle presents the child /girl with some ornaments or he gives cash
gifts at the marriage. He has the right of leading his sister's children
at the marriages and of acting as the master of ceremonies. He has the
right to the hand of his sister's daughter in certain communities.
|
