Dravidian Connection Mauritius

08/06/2025

“La coupe des cannes à sucre”

In the occasion of the annual crop season prayer at Amma Tookay, this painting depicted the history of our ancestors who came in Mauritius to work in sugar cane fields and how they lived in harmony with nature.

A huge thank you to our team members of the Dravidian Connection for the work in the decoration, crafting with sugar cane and painting made from our artist.

We say thank you to the president of Amma Tookay Kovil for their trust and faith in our work.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌹

10/05/2025

The Divine Defender

YARI (in the form of a fish )
Matya avator(vishnu) and mariamen

Mariamen, goddess of rain and fertility

In the south indian mythology from Dravidian culture, the story of the fish is linked to the concept of the Matsya avatar, a manifestation of Vishnu in the form of a giant fish.

This year, the artwork is to depict the connection between Mariamen and Matsya.:

Fish, as a symbol of water and abundance, their connection can be inferred through the sharing associated with water and their role in protecting and nurturing life.

The Yali( head)

Yali, also known as Vyala, is being shown as the mythical creature symbol of a protector and guardian. The yali head is used with different bodies to represent the goddess Matya. In its iconography, the Yalis takes numerous forms and personalities, depicted with the heads and bodies of various animals and postures. The yali defines spaces carved into pillars and makes entry ways that act as a ferocious guard, protecting the temple from both real and imagined.

The making

Nature has long been a source of inspiraton for the arts, this years in association with our brothers Iswara group, a mixed technique of crafting had been used to put life to our artwork (flowers and coconut leaves) with a combination of four colors i.e. the burgundry (flower), the yellow (flower and palm leaves), white (flower) and green (palm leaves).
In terms of form, the head of Yalis is used traditionally on the top of Thiruvasi, Matsya, as the body shape of a fish is demonstrated in an organic form.

The journey to Amma Tookay Kovil was full of devotion and praising. It has been a great experience with the energy of the deities manifesting their presence with the rain where every single devotees witnessed the benediction from Amma.

Big thanks to the members of Dravidian Connection Team and Iswara Team led by Jason Sedley who worked relentlessly to achieve this artwork. Also members of Amma Tookay Kovil, particularly mame Ganessen Chengen for his trust in us. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🌹🌹

14/01/2025

Wishing all of you a happy Thai Pongal 2025
🙏🏻🌹🌻🌸

19/12/2024

"Mariamen from the heart of Madurai Veeran"

Madurai Veeran is known as " Marday Veerin" by the Mauritian Tamil people, a name given in the French period of colonialization.

Madurai Veeran is one of the kaval deivam and guardian spirits.

Madurai Veeran, the loyal chef warrior of Lord Shakti and often revered as the protector deity of Madurai, holds a significant place in the pantheon of Dravidian culture deities. Known for his valor and unwavering dedication to justice, Madurai Veeren is celebrated primarily in the southern regions of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. His tales of bravery and sacrifice have been passed down through generations and generations, making him a beloved figure in Dravidian mythology and local folklore.

Madurai Veeran is venerated for his role as a guardian and protector, ensuring the safety and well-being of devotees . His story is one of courage, loyalty, and the triumph of good over evil.

Madurai Veeran is often associated with other regional deities such as Ayyanar and Karuppasamy, who are also revered as protectors and guardians. These deities are sometimes worshipped together in village shrines, highlighting their complementary roles.

Devotees offer prayers, light lamps, and perform special rituals to seek Madurai Veeran’s blessings. It is common to see devotees making vows and fulfilling them by offering items such as flowers, fruits, sweets and "animals sacrifices mainly goat" by some people in his temple.

Often appears with his sword, shield, and horse are common the symbols associated with Madurai Veeran, representing justice, protection, and vigilance.

The making
This sculpture demonstrates the full devotion from the heart of the devotees and Dravidian team, there is a connection with "nature" , "the mother Land" which makes the sculpture alive, crafting of coconut leaves as a finishing look of texture, expressing a sense of vibrate and illusion.

Specials thanks to Dravidian members for their relentless efforts in a brief moment of 3weeks. Grateful to Lovina for coordinated and the teams, thanks Mamee Keshen for his donation papers, coconut leaves. thanks to the members of Mont roches mariamen kovils for giving the opportunities to express our faith to the gods and the kaval deivam.

Stay tuned, loading making of................

30/06/2024

“ A peaceful place, love with the creature”

Shakti seated on her vaganum, showing blessing, harmony with adoration of the singum.

Shakti is beautiful. Shakti is seated on a lion holding a knife, trident, skull bowl and a drum with a cobra wrapped around it.

Spiritual meaning of the singum and Shakti
The singum (lion)is the celestial vehicle of mariamen, It is symbolic of the power in general and power of wild animals in particular. The singum is considered as the royal beast, the most fierce animal and represents the greed for animal flesh and blood , and hence the greed for other sensual pleasure, which invariably leads to lust and selfishness.

The singum is the symbol of immemse power and this power can be positive or negative so it can be used in any way.
Amma kali is the symbol of negative or destructive energy while amma parvati is the symbol of positive and organised energy.
The vaganum connects to her divine dieties .

Shakti is the hidden power that turns matter into life. She is the divine spark, the flow of God's love. Anyone who is connected with spirit has Shakti. Shakti is the mother goddess, the source of all, the universal principal of energy, power and creativity.

Thanks to Aya rajen , members of kovil Bassin for their blessful collabortion for the making of this radon , mamee Yasven Ramen for sponsorship. Also tambee Pozilan for his participation, making of alangalam. All the tribute go to our members of dravidian connection group , how crafted coconut leaves , sculpt days and nights ,made this projet realizable. ❤️🙏🏻🌴

25/05/2024

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

The Goddess Mariamman is the protector, the nurturer and the healer of the villagers. She is known to be a mother to all of her devotees.

Villagers offer prayers to the Goddess asking MariAmman to regulate the rain for a fruitful harvest. To manifest her joy, plants blossomed and offered their most delicious fruits and most beautiful flowers. The farmers harvest were most fruitful and food were obtained in abundance. The very air surrounding the village became purer.

MariAmman is often seen with a parrot on her shoulder. The Parrot, loyal companion of the Goddess MariAmman, usually depicts the love and devotion that devotees have for the goddess and is also a symbol of fertility.

The making of this installation of (red) sugar cane for background and coconut leaves (green and yellow) was made with the idea to bring a closer feeling to nature.

Special thank you to Aya Selven and the members of Ebene Kovil as it is with their help that we have been able to express our devotion to Amma and contribute the kovil.

We are grateful to kovil Tookay and Mame Ganessen Chengen and Mame Soune for their contribution of sugar cane.🙏🏻

Most thanks to the youths of the team who have worked relentlessly day and night on this project offered to MariAmman. Without their help, this would have been impossible to accomplish.🙏🏻🌴💛💚

08/03/2024

🥥 NOU FINN GARD NOU KILTIR FRE! 🥥

Inovasyon ek kreativite bann artizans lokal zordi pe ed pu prezerv nou patrimoine artistik, zot travay reprezant lespri nou kiltir🌴

Let's sway to the beauty of our culture this Independence Day! 🇲🇺 Inspirasyon nou bann dimunn! 💫

08/03/2024

Nataraja is the name given to the form the Hindu god Shiva embodies as the cosmic dancer and is often represented in sculpture. Nataraja means "the Lord of the Dance" in Sanskrit (from nata meaning "dance, performance," and raja meaning "lord").

The dance is often considered to have taken place at Chidambaram, where there is now a large temple constructed in honor of Nataraja, or Shiva's cosmic dance. There is a legend that Shiva danced in this location in competition with Kali, one of the manifestations of his wife, Parvati. As the dance symbolizes creation and destruction, the site at Chidambaram is considered the center of the universe.

The Nataraja iconography of Shiva as the cosmic dancer emerged sometime in the 5th century CE, but the smaller portable statues (typically made of metal) most popularly associated with the Nataraja were made during the period of the Chola dynasty (9th-13th centuries CE).

The Chola dynasty saw a great proliferation of art forms, particularly in metalworking, which led to the creation of portable metal-based representations of Nataraja. One of the reasons behind these statues' smaller to medium size is their use in processions. The more mobile form of these statues allowed them to be carried through crowds who could gather around and receive blessings.

Who is under the feet of Nataraja?
Apasmara, a mischievous personification of ignorance and forgetting, is under the feet of Nataraja. Nataraja is trampling Apasmara because he must be subdued but not killed.

Where was Shiva as Lord of Dance found?
The Shiva as Lord of Dance is associated primarily with Chidambaram, where there is now a large temple dedicated to Nataraja. As the site of Shiva's cosmic dance, Chidambaram is considered the center of the universe.

A big thanks to all members of dravidian connection team and kovils of mont roches, specially mont roches mariamen kovil, and all sponsors that contribute to the making of our radon. 🌴🌻🍀
Big applause to the youngsters who dedicated their energies nights and days and devotion to the lord Shiva. 🌴🌻🙏🏻

20/12/2023

📸: Loveveessen Murden Photography

04/09/2023

04/09/2023

Greetings to you and your family,

The President & Members of Mont Roches Mariammen Kovil Trust and Mont Roches Mariamman Kovil Inbum Koottam has the immense pleasure to invite you to its grand ceremony Thirukkuda Nanneerattup Peruvizaa - Maha Kumbhabisegum (Consecration Ceremony) at Mont Roches Arul Migou Mariamman Thiru Kovil to be held on 10th September 2023 from 06 a.m to noon.

For all donations, kindly contact either Aya Saravanen Veerabudren or Selven Chocranarainen (57392873).

Thank you in advance for your support.

May Amma Parashakthi blessings be upon you and your family 🙏.

Kind Regards,