Tanzanite Lournard Chandran, Terimunite Lournard Chandran, Dato' Bernard Chandran, Chow Yook Lin, Thanyakumari Chandran, P Ramachandran, Tanestrran Lournard Chandran, Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran and Trunan Lournard Chandran

Dato' Bernard Chandran and Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran saw to it that their youngest child and only daughter, Thanyakumari Chandran, was celebrated with a traditional Indian coming of age ceremony before she left home to further her education in New York come September. Guests like Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Datuk Tracy Ong and Thanya's brothers, Tanzanite, Trunan, Tanestrran and Terimunite were among the small-knit group present to witness the colourful celebration that's steeped in culture. Dato' Bernard insisted on having the ritual to preserve what he can of a tradition that's fast disappearing with the pace of modern times as well as to share with his non-Indian friends the beauty of the occasion, where a young girl's transition into womanhood is celebrated with much pomp and ceremony.

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 28 Tanzanite Lournard Chandran, Terimunite Lournard Chandran, Dato' Bernard Chandran, Chow Yook Lin, Thanyakumari Chandran, P Ramachandran, Tanestrran Lournard Chandran, Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran and Trunan Lournard Chandran
Photo 2 of 28 Datuk Ramli Ibrahim
Photo 3 of 28 The grand set up of Thanyakumari Chandran's coming of age ceremony
Photo 4 of 28 P Ramachandran and Terimunite Lournard Chandran
Photo 5 of 28 Teiaajman Kumaresan,Monisha Chandran, Tanzanite Lournard Chandran, Trunan Lournard Chandran, Tanestrran Lournard Chandran, Soniyah Kumaresan, Keischmman Kumaresan and Terimunite Lournard Chandran
Photo 6 of 28 Traditional dances set the pace of the occasion
Photo 7 of 28 Gold jewellery for Thanya
Photo 8 of 28 A millstone for part of the ceremony
Photo 9 of 28 Some of the ceremonial paraphernalia
Photo 10 of 28 More ceremonial paraphernalia
Photo 11 of 28 Thanya is accompanied by her brothers to her seat where the ceremony will begin.
Photo 12 of 28 Thanya being ushered to her seat.
Photo 13 of 28 As per the ritual, Thanya is bathed, anointed and dressed in a colourful traditional outfit.
Photo 14 of 28 She is made to sit on a stool and have a myriad of traditional rituals and prayers performed on her.
Photo 15 of 28 The objective is to rid her of 'dosham' or bad aura and energy so she will have a smooth and good life ahead.
Photo 16 of 28 Thanyakumari Chandran
Photo 17 of 28 Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran and Dato' Bernard Chandran
Photo 18 of 28 Kaisyah Khalil Akasah, Datuk Tracy Ong, Thanyakumari Chandran, Dr Juliena Khalil Akasah, Datin Sri Dottie Kamaluddin and Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran
Photo 19 of 28 Soniyah Kumaresan, Thanyakumari Chandran and Monisha Chandran
Photo 20 of 28 Melissa Crystal, Thanyakumari Chandran and Agnes Udayar
Photo 21 of 28 Thanyakumari Chandran and Terimunite Lournard Chandran
Photo 22 of 28 Dato' Bernard Chandran and Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran saw to it that their youngest child and only daughter, Thanyakumari Chandran, was celebrated with a traditional Indian coming of age ceremony before she left home to further her education in New York
Photo 23 of 28 Thanyakumari Chandran
Photo 24 of 28 Tanzanite, Trunan, Tanestrran and Terimunite performing a dance for the occasion.
Photo 25 of 28 Dato' Bernard Chandran and Thanyakumari Chandran
Photo 26 of 28 Terimunite Lournard Chandran, Tanzanite Lournard Chandran, Dato' Bernard Chandran, Thanyakumari Chandran, Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran, Tanestran Lournard Chandran and Trunan Lournard Chandran
Photo 27 of 28 Trunan Lourdes Chandran and Thanyakumari Chandran
Photo 28 of 28 Dato' Bernard Chandran and Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran