Thoranam ( ta, தோரணம் IAST ) are hanging decorations in

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

. These decorations are rooted in

Tamil culture Tamil culture is the culture of the Tamil people. Tamil culture is rooted in the arts and ways of life of Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and across the globe. Tamil culture is expressed in language, literature, music, dance, thea ...

. The history of this decoration extends back to the

Sangam period The Sangam period or age (, ), particularly referring to the third Sangam period, is the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka (then known as Tamilakam) spanning from c. 6th century BCE to c. 3rd century CE. ...

. In those days there were no printed invitations, so the decorations served to indicate to people visiting that place whether it is a happy occasion or mourning. Thoranam is made up of tender coconut leaf blades and is made in two different types. Thoranam is mentioned in a song sung by 8th century Andal pasuram,

Nachiar Tirumozhi ''Nachiyar Tirumoli'' (; ) is a set of 143 verses composed by Andal, one of the twelve Alvars in Vaishnava tradition. In her restlessness and eagerness to attain Kannan (Krishna), Andal attempts various methods by which she can attain union ...

of ''

Divya Prabandha The Naalayira Divya Prabandham ( ta, நாலாயிரத் திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம், lit=Four Thousand Divine Hymns, translit=Nālāyira Divya Prabandham) is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by ...

'' in

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

literature:
வாரணம் ஆயிரம் சூழ வலம் செய்து
நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான் என்றெதிர்
பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்துப் புறமெங்கும்
தோரணம் நாட்டக் கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ நான் Meaning : ''I had a dream oh friend! The town was decked with festoons and golden urns. Surrounded by a thousand caparisoned elephants, our Kannan came towards me (to marry me).'' She explains to Krishna about the dream she had. Akshat sharma

Types

* Mangala Thoranam - Auspicious ones are used during festival seasons and happy occasions in homes and temples. Thoranam has a bird like design and got four or five them which faces upward direction. Thoranam3

* Amangala Thoranam - Inauspicious ones are used in mourning places. They feature three birds which face downwards. Another thoranam is ''Maavilai Thoranam'' made up of mango tree leaves which are tied up on the main door of a temple or house for auspicious occasions. Mango leaves are considered to be a good disinfectant and they purify the air, which helps when there is a gathering of people for festivals are other positive occasions. Veppilai thoranam is made up of Neem leaves. The words veepam (neem) + ilai(leaf) equal the word veppilai. Neem is considered to be a very good disinfectant for various diseases such as smallpox and mysterious fevers, especially during the summer season. In

Tamil nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

the Amman(Paarvathi) festivals were celebrated during summer and neem leaves are very prominently hung in temples, houses and streets.

References

{{reflist Tamil culture