120 years ago, on Poonamalle High Road, a certain Kuppuswamy started a Peaten Vandi business (local lingo which roughly translates to 'chariot'), with just one chariot and two horses. He had bought the chariot from the Spencers Company and hired it out with two horses.

Today, his great grand grandson Thennavan owns three chariots, one Jhatka and half a dozen horses. Kuppusamy did business for nearly 60 years till the early years of 1940's. He then handed it over to his son (Thennavan's grandfather).

When Thennavan was given charge of the family business, he had just one chariot, which he had inherited from his grandfather. The chariot used to be sent for weddings, with just two horses (minus any fancy decorations). But as customers started demanding more value for money, Thennavan began decorating the chariot, horses and the footmen. This caught the attention of many people and soon more business started coming in.

With demand increasing, Thennavan bought two more chariots - one from Bangalore and the other from Madanapalli (90 kms from Chitoor). Since then, there has been no looking back. The chariots are hired mostly for weddings. People from the Marwadi community hire horses on which the bridegroom rides in the 'baarat' (marriage procession from the bridegroom's house to the bride's house).

There are at least 15 weddings during the auspicious months. Sometimes though, there is business only for five days in a month. During Christmas, when the chariots are hired by educational institutions, the footmen dress as elves and Santa Claus to amuse children.

Thennavan employs 11 men to look after the horses and also work as footmen for the chariots, when they are hired out. The chariots have been booked for places as far off as Trichy, Nagapattinam, Nagore and even Vijaywada. Hiring charges for a chariot harnessed with two horses are between Rs. 1500 /- to Rs 1700 /- for 4 hours. For the chariot to be pulled by four horses, charges are extra.

For enquiries contact:
Thennavan, # 20, Ponnamalee High Road (Opposite Ripon Building),
Periamet, Chennai - 600 003
Phone: 538 1125

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