Pongal 2016!

Boghi!!!

The end of marghazhi season and start of celebrations about farmers, agriculture, lives, etc. Living in urban area means less chances of viewing actual Pongal celebrations in my neighbourhood. Usually, the only way of enjoying Pongal for me is through watching Television, celebrations at college (for some their schools or offices), messages to greet the near and dear ones. But this time it was something different.

Boghi is a festival celebrated by throwing old things from the home into the fire set up using fuel/oil and few sticks of wood. On the day of Boghi, I woke up to the kaleidoscopic view of smoke. Which was something new and I have never seen my house filled with so much smoke. For a while I enjoyed the way how the smoke moved. It was like watching the movement of clouds with greater speed. It was astonishing to know that smoke is unpredictable but still makes a move. Even though obstacles like walls, doors, windows, objects were present the smoke somehow manages to move steadily. It felt like a life lesson. Our thoughts, aims, efforts should be like a smoke; it must be spontaneous and constant. Even under difficulties or arrival of obstacles one must never get ceased but to overcome/tackle them.

I had college that day. So quickly, I snapped out of the smoke admiring moment and started to get ready for college. I picked my bag and was walking on the streets of my neighbourhood to reach the bus stop. Every porch of the house had colourful, intricate designs of kolam and rangoli. The view of the street was a mixture of smoke, fog, amber streaks of sunrise, and bonfires at each house. After, a long period of research works at college. I got really tired. I slept like anything.

Pongal – O – Pongal!!

Well, my family are not that much into celebrations. And floods made further damage to their tiny celebration spirit. I for one always love to take part in any activities related to festivals. But today I was too tired. Kids outside my house were cheerfully shouting Pongal-o-Pongal. I greeted back to all who showered me with their creative and happy Pongal wishes. I am glad festivals are a reason to evoke people into greeting and remembering they have human friends other than their gadgets. I took some chalk pieces and drew some amateur patterns on the porch in an attempt to draw a kolam. My brother started nagging that a 3 year old can draw better than me. Well I don’t care if they are imperfect patterns, as long as it makes me happy and hurts none; nothing wrong with doing it imperfectly.

My kolam/ Rangoli/ whatever it is that made me happy!

So, that’s how Pongal 2016 began for me.

Hope it is a prosperous year ahead for you!!!

Wish you a Happy Pongal!

Festival special: Karthigai deepam

Today, most of the Tamilians celebrate Karthigai deepam i.e. festival of lights. My mom wasn’t that much into religious practices; she says god has to be prayed from within. But she never restricted me to lit a lamp or go to temples. 

When I was a school kid, I used to collect broken chalk pieces on the floor after last class of the day ends. Then carefully I put those tiny chalk pieces into my pencil box. I used to draw beautiful... okay somewhat creative murals on the floor of the porch at my home. These abstract yet wonderful patterns/drawings on floor are called as “Kolam” in Tamil Nadu. I always find tranquility whenever I do kolam. Traditionally, Kolam are made using rice flour so that it also acts as food to birds. And the patterns are also filled with different shades of contrasting colors.

The best part comes when the clay lamps a.k.a Vilaku are lit in the evening. I won’t say to lit a vilaku is an extremely difficult skill to acquire but the way it is lit is somewhat fulfills the soul with satisfaction. We had three lamps at house, i used to clean them properly with a wet cloth then use it. Adequate amount of oil is poured into the lamps and then a small amount of cotton is taken from the First aid box and rolled into wicks. The wicks are dipped into the oil and one end is kept ready to be lit.

I always insist my mom that only I will light the lamps. So, she turns the gas stove on, where the luminous blue flames arise. She lit the candle and gives it to me so that I don’t burn my hands. I keep the fire near the wick until the wick gets lit. Sometimes the November weather is cold so the wick doesn’t gets heated up soon and this used to test my patience but still if there is interest the level of patience increases.

Then we keep these lamps on the porch. I used to break a small piece from the broomstick and use it whenever to adjust the wick and have spare oil to pour over the lamps whenever I feel like the oil is less until i get tired and drowsy. I also enjoy the view of neighbor places filled with tiny specks of lights. So, that’s how I used to celebrate my karthigai deepam. 

Hope today is also awesome and happy karthigai deepam!!