ILAVATTAK KAL

ILAVATTAK KAL


Tamil Culture is very rich with numerous traditions. 
Every village, town, and city have them. 
Every caste, sub-caste, sept, gothra, kudi, etc., also have them.
Some are common; some are rare and some are unique.
Some weeks ago,  I wrote about something known as 'iLavatta Kal'. This was in relation to the thread on 'Sandow'. 
'ILavatta kal' is a spherical, smooth, granite ball of varying size. 
Usually it is about 1 mulzam in diameter, i.e., 18 -21 inches. Some of them are 24 inches. 

Any young man who wants to test his strength, carries the stone up, and lifts it to his shoulder, and throws it behind over his shoulder. 
Thats why its known as 'iLavatta kal'.
In villages which are inhabited by martial communities, a young man who takes a bride in that village is made to lift the stone. 
Hence it is otherwise known as 'MappiLLai Kal' also.

There are certain techniques in carrying the stone.


Some villages hold competitions in stone-lifting. 


Things are made difficult for the competition. 
The stone, which is already very smooth, is smeared  liberally with castor oil - (viLakkeNNey). 
To make the castor oil more slippery and thicker, some ingredients are added. 
Off handedly I can think of one such concoction. 


They burn ricestalk straw. Before it turns to ashes, the fire is put out. The remaining residue is charred straw. This is powdered and made into soot. This soot is very fine and 

powdery. 

This is mixed with castor oil and made into a paste. 

This concoction is known as 'masagu'. 

The stone is liberally smeared with this.
The young men try to carry this slippery stone ball.
This is one ball which any man will be proud to carry.
Especially after polishing the ball.