F/A series - 5

The window glasses are also very unique in this part of the country ....

a few examples here ....

F/A series - 4

The Knob .....

A very interesting piece of the architectural splendour from Chettinad, the Knob. These ornamental knobs are seen at the main door, room doors (arai).















shown here are knobs on different doorset's .....










P.s. : what's an antique? what the Grandfather buys judiciously, Dad sells at throwaway price, the Grandson buys it back at a fancy price .... :-)

F/A series - 3

நிலை or Nilai :-

This is the entrance design in the main door. The "Nilai" shows the grandeur of a someone's home. These are also done in the main rooms entrance too. Especially in the 1st "kattu" or கட்டு or the main "Valavu" , the rooms are the main அறை, for which they decorate with such an artistic Nilai.
Normally they depict a scene from Hindu mythology. Will follow this with more such closeup's on the Nilai.

Furniture / Architecture series - 2

In short, henceforth, F/A series ....

Check this out .... மனை or Manai ...














As informed earlier, these manai's are used predominantly in the marraiges, on which the Bride & the Groom get married to each other. These designs are almost simlar in every household in this area. The base made out of wood and the seat made of tiles, which are placed delicately over these base wooden planks.

2 more days to go

i'm kicked to think that i'd be carrying the new toy to Chettinad and might be able to click a few snaps for this blog as well the Flickr group ...... hopefully we find time among the 2 marraiges to be attended in 2 days ... :-)

Furniture / Architecture series - 1

Like the easy chair shown earlier .... there are some unique chairs, furnitures, utensils pertaining to this topogragphy ..... will be covering them too soon in this space .....

I hope to capture quite a bit of live examples when i'm travelling to Chettinad on Jan 27th & 28th,07.

For now ......

Marriages @ Heaven - 2

I'd be filling details on what happens post the wedding in the morning ....

What follows is a grand feast (called lunch), which normally has a plantain leaf used as a Thaali, which has a spread which is mouthwatering and yummy. Normally it's a vegetarian fare and includes about 12-14 variety of dishes ..... though some show their money power by going upto 20-22 varieties .... just think about it !!! (..mmmm)

Post the lunch the "mega-serial" item happens .... yes the 'tears' scenario .... the bride bids adieu to her folks, uncles etc ..... and the closest family and the girl breaks into tears while bidding "good-bye" ..... the immediate family (normally the bride, groom, groom's parents, bride & grooms uncle and a younger sibling / cousin of the bride) leaves the bride's village to their village (the groom's place).

The group doesn't reach their home straight but an annointed home (their neighbours, relative) closeby. Then in the evening the entire bus-ful of relatives of the bride reaches and then the bride & the groom are taken to the grooms home. This is called the "Penn azhaippu", where the girl is brought to her home.

After a few small formalities like spotting the ring out of three pots etc (to make them comfortable) the newly wed and their relatives settle (again) for a dinner feast at the groom's home.

Hope i've covered quite a bit ....... (for want of the right picture have added an upcoming movie still about the chettinadu weddings)