So I went yesterday to the country side to see the Shivaratri, the gathering of the Thevar cast (a famous and feared farmers cast) at Amaavasai, in February the day before New Moon.

The authentic Tamil Dravidian Gods are then celebrated called by the name Ochaandaman or Karpusami or Ayainaar ... the most famous ones for the Thevar cast, each generation of Thevars has their own family God.

Here you see one of the priests here gathered of the Thevar cast devoted to Ochaandaman, the God celebrated here in this area. The local people come to them to ask their blessings.

In other areas Thevars are praying to other Gods, so the name of their God is strictly area related.

All over Tamil Nadu this special day is celebrated.
The Nadar Cast (another farmer cast) is praying to Karkuveelayainaar or Bethanatsji or Periaanthavaar ....
these are all typical Dravidian Gods that you find only in Tamil Nadu.

Ochappan invited us at his mother house at Thimmanatham and together we went to this festival at a holy old tree in the middle of the rice fields.

Traditions on the country side are still very lively and deep, this day you have to eat only vegetarian food.

Indeed this day is marked as a very special day cause I will hand over the fine support by Deepak, a designer from Mumbai, in exchange for using 5 photos of my gallery, to the real Ochappan.
Kadaici kanavu unmaiyil varugirathu.