When girls attain puberty, the day and the time are marked by her mother. The first bath on that day is given by her " Thai Mama" or maternal Uncle. Then she is kept in isolation for few days, and fed with nutritional food such as gingerly oil, "Kali" or pasty pudding made out of black gram, and sesame seeds mixed with jiggery. The puberty is celebrated with a feast on the seventh day by the Tamils. It's a joyous occasion for the family. During earlier days, the girls were not allowed to see any males during their isolation period. They were kept indoors. The particular girl is given special care during this period.
The ceremony which takes place on the seventh day is called "Samaththiya Sadangu " or "Ruthu Sadangu" or "Poopunitha Neeraattu Vizha". It is also known as "coming of age". Puberty means the girl transforms physically and emotionally.
The girl is dressed glamorously with gold jewelleries and have a traditional rituals carried out by the elderly women in the family and village. Most of the Hindu rituals are carried out by the males, but only women carry out the rituals for this particular ceremony. The girl gets her first saree, which is made out of silk. The close relatives are invited for the ceremony, and shower her with gifts. Mostly gold jewelleries are gifted to her on this day. Some remote villages in Jaffna have a little different way of celebrating puberty. Some villagers present her with Green coloured gifts, which are to invite fertility. Special traditional sweets are made and served for the ceremony.
It is also said that, it has been a tradition earlier her maternal Uncle's son is proposed after attaining puberty, and gets married to the girl later. Traditional-minded families may force the girl to leave school, once she reaches puberty, and give her in marriage.
It's a belief that, the Goddess attained puberty on "Aadi Pooram" day ." Aadi Pooram" falls during the Tamil month of "Aadi". And puberty ceremony is held at the Amman temples on this special day. Puberty ceremony was held for Arulmigu Sri Muneeswarar Kaaliyambaal in Wolfendhal, Colombo 13 on August 15 th 2007. Women were dressed in glittering sarees, and made preparation for the ceremony. The Goddess was dressed glamorously, and the rituals were performed.
"Seer" or dowry was taken in procession from Arulmigu Rukmani Sametha Paarthasaarathy temple in Colombo. The " Seer" was comprised of silk saree, coconuts, flowers, beauty accessories, betel leaves, arecanut, fruits, milk, raw rice, puttu, rotty, cooked rice, lattu, seeni ariyaaram, sugar candy, kesari, and payaththam paniyaaram. Puberty ceremony was held for the eighth time for Arulmigu Sri Muneeswarar Kaaliyambaal. Fire crackers were lit, and the " Seer" was carried by devotees, and accompanied by "Thavil" and "Nathaswaram" in the night from Arulmigu Rukmani Sametha Paarthasaarathy temple to Arulmigu Sri Muneeswarar Kaaliyambaal temple in procession. The elegant ceremony continued till late night.
