Thoranam

Thoranam (Tamil: தோரணம் IAST Tōraṇam) are hanging decorations in Tamil Nadu.[1] Rooted in Tamil culture[2] it got a history way back to the Sangam period. The main purpose it was used on those days, since there were no printed invitations, to differentiate whether it is a happy occasion or mourning for the people who visit that place. It is made up of tender coconut leaf blades and has two types.

Thoranam decoration in a Hindu Temple

Thoranam in a song sung by 8th century Andal pasuram, Nachiar Tirumozhi of Divya Prabandha[3][4] in Tamil literature


வாரணம் ஆயிரம் சூழ வலம் செய்து
நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான் என்றெதிர்
பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்துப் புறமெங்கும்
தோரணம் நாட்டக் கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ நான்

Meaning : I had a dream O friend! The town was decked with festoons and golden urns. Surrounded by a thousand caparisoned elephants our Kannan came towards me ( to marry )

She explains krishna about her dream she had. Akshat sharma

Types
Mangala Thoranam (auspicious)
  • Mangala Thoranam - Auspicious are used during festival season and happy occasions in houses and temples.[5] Thoranam has a bird like design and got four or five them which faces upward direction.
Amangala Thoranam (Inauspicious)
  • Amangala Thoranam - Inauspicious are used at mourning places. It has three birds which faces downwards.

Another thoranam is Maavilai Thoranam made up of mango tree leaves which will be tied up on the main door of a temple or house for auspicious. Mango leaves are good disinfectant and purifies the air which helps when there is a gathering of people for festivals are good occasions.[6]

Veppilai thoranam is made up of Neem leaves where veepam (neem) + ilai(leaf) = veppilai. Neem is a very good disinfectant for various diseases like smallpox and mysterious fever especially during the summer season. In Tamil nadu the Amman(Paarvathi) festivals[7][8] were celebrated during summer and neem leaves are very prominently hung in temples, houses and streets.[9]

References
  1. "Decoration in Jaffna Buildings - Conceptual and Symbolic Aspects of Decoration in Jaffna".
  2. "Flickrhivemind.net".
  3. "திருஞானசம்பந்தரின் தனிச்சிறப்புப் பதிகங்கள்".
  4. "Home".
  5. "Hindu temple's decoration sets new Singapore record". The Straits Times. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. "விழாக்களின் போதும் திருவிழாகளின் போதும் மாவிலைத் தோரணம் கட்டுவது ஏன்?".
  7. "Picasa Web Albums - Mothers Page". picasaweb.google.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
  8. "ஆடி வெள்ளி.. அம்மன் தரிசனம்!".
  9. "திருவள்ளூர் அருகே மர்ம காய்ச்சலா?: பொதுமக்கள் வேப்பிலை கட்டி வழிபாடு || Mysterious fever near Thiruvallur". www.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.
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