Observance and cultural significance
Padinettam Perak or Aadi Perukku commonly known as the Aadi
monsoon festival and also written as Aadiperukku is a Tamil festival celebrated
on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi (mid-July to mid-August). The
festival pays tribute to water's life-sustaining properties. For the blessing
of mankind with peace, prosperity and happiness, nature worship in the form of Amman deities are organized to shower
Nature’s bountiful grace on human beings.
The festival coincides with the
annual freshes of the rivers and to pay tribute to water's life-sustaining
properties. It is celebrated near river basins, water tanks, lakes and wells
etc. of Tamil Nadu when the water level in the rises significantly heralding
the onset of Monsoon. It is also famous among Sri Lankan Tamils. This is also
celebrated by most of the Tamils around the world.
In India the rivers Ganges and
Yamuna, Cauvery and Godavari are considered sacred. Just like the earth gives
us food, water is considered as a sacred necessity to meet the needs of
individuals. People began to worship water in the form of wells, tanks and
rivers. It is common among people to throw fruits, saffron cloths, etc., when
the rivers and lakes are in spate purely based on the belief that these rivers
are the species of female deities. Similarly every temple has sacred wells and
tanks, and water in these resources is considered pure.
Padinettam Perukku, otherwise
called Padinettam Perukku is a unique
occasion which is intended to celebrate the water rising levels due to the
onset of monsoon, which is expected to occur invariably on the 18th day of the
solar month. Padinettu signifies eighteen, and Perukku denotes rising.
This festival is observed
predominately by women in Tamil Nadu to honour nature. This water ritual
practice is performed on the banks of Rivers, which is described as a
rice-cultivation tract. Aadi is the month for sowing, rooting, planting of
seeds and vegetation since it is peak monsoon time when rain is showered in
abundance. No weddings or other similar functions are celebrated during Aadi.
The 18th day of Aadi, usually 2 August, is observed as 'Padinettam Perukku', a day of offerings and prayers to these rivers, which mean so much to the lives and prosperity of the people. The day is an occasion for rejoicing particularly for those living on the banks of the all the main rivers, its branches and tributaries. The families spend the evening by the river, eating preparations of rice. Playing to the tune of Adiperukku folk songs by young women are the major attractions during this festival. Also, this festival has got cultural influence.