Nomads dressed-up as Gods - Behrupiya in Chennai

The tradition of ‘Pagal Veshakarar’ have really decreased I guess. So is the ‘Boom Boom Maatukkaran’!!! Ok, I know, to the non-Tamils these words make no sense.

PAGAL VESHAKKARAR (பகல் வேஷக்காà®°à®°்)
Ok, Pagal Veshakkarar (பகல் வேஷக்காà®°à®°்) literally means ‘day costumed person’. But that’s rather a way too literal translation. It actually refers to the people who dress up like Gods and come door to door and sing hymns of God. Most are from Andhra Pradesh and are nomadic tribes. They dress up as Gods with all ornaments inclusive of the skin color of the Gods painted on their body.
This guy came over to my home on Vinayakar Chaturthi. This day was the celebration of Lord Ganesha’s Birthday and an auspicious day celebrated all over India. And this guy was dressed up all as Lord Vishnu with blue painted all over his body. He sang hymns on Lord and gladly accepted when I said I wanted a shot of him.

Boologanathar Temple, Trichy - East Boulevard Road Boologanathar Temple, Trichy - East Boulevard Road

BOOM BOOM MAATUKKARAN (பூà®®் பூà®®் à®®ாட்டுக்காரன்)
Boom Boom Maadu is essentially a decorated bull; and Maatukkaran is the guy with the bull. This is a tradition kept up by the Aadhiyan Community in Tamil Nadu. They are nomadic tribes from the Nagapattinam dt. of Tamil Nadu and are spread all over south India. They too are similar to the Pagal Veshakkarar, but the major difference is the bull – the highly decorated bull. They go door to door with the bull and with a Nadhaswaram, which is an Indian trumpet. The play music with the trumpet and sometimes sing too. They play the song we want them to play. Sometimes carnatic music, the classical music of South India or some old Tamizh movie songs too!!! Then they also say good things about the house & the people in it like and the bull will respond by shaking its head in positive or negative!!! Since this bull keeps shaking its head, it’s called a Boom Boom Maadu.
           He says, this house will be filled with happiness and laughter always right? Bull says, Yes!!!
         He says, the young woman in this house will be married soon right? Bull says, Yes!!!
         He says, no one in this house will have any health issues, no? Bull says, No!!!
Then they accept whatever is given to them in cash or kind and proceed to the next house!!! Incredible? Yup. It’s Incredible India indeed!!!
This guy came to our home once, but without the bull. His music was amazing and his Nathaswaram was soul stirring. I told him to play some nice classical masterpieces and listened for some 10 minutes. I was really intrigued by his outfit and I said I wanted a shot of him. He readily agreed. That was during my college days and my photography module was going on. My teacher saw that shot and was really impressed.
About a year later he came back again and just did not recognize him. He had shaved his fabulous beard. Somehow no one else had asked him for a photoshoot, might be – On looking at me he promptly asked, ‘Remember me? You took a photo of me last time!!!’. I was like ‘Was that you??? Where is your beard?????’. Well, he had taken it off and I recognized him after taking a long look at him. He was really very happy to see the huge blow up of his pic which printed for my college presentation!!!!!

THE LOST TRADITIONS
Of late, with the so-called development these awesome traditions are being left behind. Of late I don’t see many of them, very much to my disappointment!!! And the general population have the misconception of treating them like beggars and not as performers, giving much stress to their offsprings to take the tradition forward!!!

Bhushavali

An ardent traveler by passion. Being an ex - Art History Teacher, my area of interest especially lies in Nature and Heritage. Visited 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites as of June 2022. I've been listed among the Top 7 Women Travel Bloggers of India, Top 50 in UK. I have been interviewed in a couple of TV Shows, Radio Channels and Events as well. Read more about me and read the testimonials of different brands

17 comments:

  1. Shenai or Nadhaswaram???? Actually these people used to play Shenai. Btw, the young woman got married or not???

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  2. @Jij,
    Nadhaswaram!!! Not yet, still waiting.....!!! :D

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  3. Its been ages since ive seen any of them! there used to be boom boom matukkarans here in bbay too, but now my son has never seen any! and i also remember those kazha kootadis... those who used to balance on ropes???

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  4. They all started studying/realizing. i knw a guy cald eashwaran, nw working fr google and was ta son of boom boom matukaran.

    btw, gud one. enjoyable. nice translation, lol.
    and my best wishes for ta soon to be ......

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  5. Wow this is really amazing. They are so colorful. I didn't think nomads are in the city or travelling alone. And they are so cute to let you take their pictures :)

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  6. Hmmm, haven't seen them for a loooong time...
    Ur post just makes me go back in time & remember the last time i saw these people...

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  7. I remember in bangalore, koramangla where I used to live Boom boom matukaaran (with madu) used to come every sunday morning and wake up everybody in the neighbouhood

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  8. aahaa.. it reminds me my childhood. i have seen lot of boom boom maatukarars in my village. we loved that boom boom sound. :)

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  9. Like the tourism brochures I read, it surely is Incredible India! So colourful. I'm off to Bangalore and Kerala next week.

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  10. Wonderful post. I see them. But they are very rare.

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  11. Hello,

    It is very interesting to read these traditional folk going from house to house seeking alms.This is a very valuable tradition which should be preserved. However, since people are ill treating them, it is quite likely these people will look some other way of earning their livelihood.

    I remember many of these people used to appear during pongal time.I also remember one more person called MANIAKARAN.Normally he walks on the roads and streets during nights and one fine day he will appear in the day time to ask for money.Children used to be very frightened of this man.I wonder if this man comes even now.

    Lovely photos.

    Best wishes,
    Joseph

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  12. Hi Friend! Great post: always learning here...
    Congrats on your awards!!

    Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter Two, which has now started to cruise the Nile for you, but without Poirot... ;) Enjoy and have a great week!

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  13. Namaste...

    Thank you for sharing such an interesting history. Like most traditions they fade through the passage of time and remain only in the tradition of oral story telling and even those die a slow death.

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  14. @Anu,
    So sad that the next gen is so unaware of them.. :(

    @Navin,
    Soon to be...??? Oye!! Enna nakkala!!!

    @Ocean Gal,
    Here in India, there used to be so many of them, that to in a city like Chennai. They are reducing these days, that's the worst part!!! :(

    @Sathish,
    Hmm... :)

    @Divi,
    That's a nice way to be woken up in the mornings!!

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  15. @Sanjai,
    Thanks for dropping by after so many days!!! :)

    @Magic Eye,
    Thanks dear.. :)

    @Rajesh,
    Isn't it so dis-heartening!!! :(

    @Joseph,
    By ill treating them we pave way for a cultural drain!!! :(

    @JM,
    Thanks dear!!! :)

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  16. @GMG,
    Thanks dear.. :)

    @Blogjunta,
    Thanks for considering my blog so worthy.
    I'll contact you soon!!!

    @Rhapsody,
    Isn't it so wrong on our part to let it die!!! :(

    ReplyDelete

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