Kollic Catti

Kollic catti refers to a clay pot filled with fire. This pot is lifted using a coconut frond tied at the end and carried by a family member of the deceased, either son or father. The person carrying this pot has to accompany the corpse while sacred songs are played all the way to the cremation ground.

Managing the Corpse

The corpse will be placed in the living room with the head facing south. An oil lamp (kaamaatci amman vilakku) is lit, a coconut is split in half, and sirih pinang is placed near the corpse. Incense and camphor are burned as a symbol of peace of mind. Holy powder (tiruniiru) is rubbed on the forehead before the prayer ceremony. The corpse is carefully guarded; thumbs and toes are tied with white cloth, hands are placed on the chest, eyes are closed tightly and turmeric is applied before being wrapped in cloth to disinfect. Crushed sirih pinang is put into the mouth, and the nose is stuffed with cotton, while a coin is placed on the forehead. Rose water is sprinkled on the corpse and the corpse is fumigated with incense to remove the smell. As a sign of the family's grief, the pictures in the house are turned upside down and the jewellery is taken out of the living room.

Vaaikkaris Ceremony

After the body is bathed and decorated, it is placed in a coffin with camphor to prevent the smell. A little rice is also put in the mouth of the deceased as a symbol of the last gift, known as vaaikkarisi. The body is then placed in the living room.

 Cremation

The coffin is then taken to the cremation ground using a stretcher. Once there, the stretcher bearer pays the crematorium maintainer. The coffin is moved several times towards the burning place, starting with the legs and then the head, which is believed to symbolize the deceased entering the belly of the Earth Goddess. Firewood is arranged in the crematorium. The corpse is placed on it and covered with a layer of firewood and dried cow dung, which is then sprinkled with burning oil. A coin is inserted into the dhoti as a sign of permission to cremate the body. The prayer ceremony begins, and the kollic catti bearers circle the corpse three times clockwise. In the third round, they kneel before the corpse without facing it. Three sticks of fire are stuck to the ground one by one, with the aim of reducing the grief of the family of the deceased.