Oct 241 min read

Photo Gallery: Kodava ‘Ain Mane’ (ancestral house) established in Chennai

Here is the photo gallery of the newly inaugurated Kodava Ain Mane at Dakshinachitra Museum in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Photos By: Mookonda Indira

Chennai: The Kodava Ain Mane is the heart of the Kodava community, serving as a cultural hub where the community's traditions, values, and heritage are preserved and passed down through generations. These ancestral houses, known as Ain Mane, act as living repositories of Kodava customs and history. In an effort to introduce this distinctive cultural legacy to a wider audience, a replica of the Kodava Ain Mane has now been established at the Dakshinachitra Museum in Chennai.

Dakshinachitra, a living museum dedicated to the art, architecture, lifestyle, performing arts, and crafts of South India, is home to 18 traditional houses representing the diverse cultures of the region. As the museum’s 19th addition, the Kodava Ain Mane brings to life the rich heritage of the Kodava community, offering a glimpse into its unique traditions and ways of life.

This project was made possible through the support of the CSR wing of Hyundai Motors and Mobis India Foundation, whose contributions helped bring this cultural showcase to fruition.

Work on the Kodava Ain Mane at Dakshinachitra began in June 2023, and the structure was officially inaugurated on 23 October 2024. The house is adorned with exhibits that showcase the vibrant culture of the Kodavas, including their rituals, folk traditions, attire, cuisine, and other cultural practices.