A journey down the lane; Malarum ninaivugal

Four days holidays at a stretch,thanks to present CM of Tamil nadu.
Celebration of Pongal, Kanupongal, Mattu Pongal , Kanum Pongal and so on and so forth,.
Irrespective of the age there is always a liking to wards holidays, especially when they come in plenty,but as the aging process goes on, the enthusiasm with which these are used to be celebrated undergoes a change.

My earliest memories of Pongal goes back when i was in School (reading in first standard) and when my sisters used to celebrate KANU PONGAL . And i am blessed with sisters, 4 own sisters and half a dozen cousin sisters. Those days , it is customary for the girls who have offered Kanu podi (for the well being of their brothers) to approach elders and take their blessings. Blessings usually will be accompanied by gifts in cash, I remember my sisters getting Rs 10 each (good money in 1960s) and since i used to accompany them, i will always get a few rupees.Mind you , 25 paise in those days can get you one plate iddly, one vada and a cup of coffee.Thus in one day, by simply accompanying my sisters, i would have temporarily become rich. If the gifts are good, the luxury of having a masal dosai in India Coffe house, accompanied by a movie in Krishnaveni theater are the addl benefits.

And then the memories go to the point of time when i reached my teens.This is the difficult age.On the one hand you will have to give something to your younger sisters as gift and on the other hand you have to recoup your reources, with out making it to appear too obvious. The fact that i had only one sister younger to me and all other sisters elder to me saved me the embarrassment.This was the time i was living in one of those houses (Recall server sundaram, if you want to have an idea about the house we lived in), containing, one small verandah, one hall and one kitchen in which me , my two unmarried sisters, my elder sister and my brother in law along with their three kids have to live.Some one said, the constraints are not outside, but inside, Yes 100% true. The happiness which we used to get while celebrating Pongal in these "ondu kudiththanam " as they used to be called, despite limitation in moving space, is still evading me after two decades.There used to be a Radha krishna temple near by and the loud speakers will start playing songs both from movies aswell as devotional songs, right from the day before the
Pongal which used to last till the week end, almost 4-5 days at a stretch.This is the time when girls in their teens in the neighboring houses will visit and exchange glances, on the pretext of taking asirvathams from elders in the house. No formal talking, only eyes will meet. That is enough to keep the day wholesome.

Then comes the College days.Along with attendant pressures. Still, home preparations which have always been a speciality during Pongal, used to keep the interest at its best. These are also the days when participation in tamil speeches used to take a front seat. And emerging victorious, nine out of ten times added glitter to the same.This was to be the trend setter for a reward later obtained from the hands of Kaviyarasu Kannadasan later in 1980s in Kolkatta when the undersigned was fortunate to win three awards for best speech, best story writing and best analytical skills of a novel(MARAPPASU) by Thi. Janagi raman.

And then came the long and sullen officialdom.The time spent for literary activities and to enjoy the little pleasures that is offered by the Pongal festival have all gone into oblivion till a break took place, when i was given an opportunity to work in Hongkong. I was elected the president of HK Tamil cultural association which gave an opportunity and time to make good the last time to some extent. This was the time when Chinese New Year will be celebrated. Combining both events there was occasion to rejoice by organising patti mandrams, Vazhakkadu mandrams, drama festivals etc.

And now in CHENNAI, with official duties keeping one as prisoner of circumstances,Pongal comes and goes But the pleasures associated with it, are seldom enjoyed, especially when my two loving eyes (Son and daughter) are not around to enjoy the same,

But i am a hard core optimist, waiting for the union to come and then to redouble the happiness of enjoying Pongal in all its grandeur,

Till then hats off to all those sisters, elders, damsels and my dear son and daughter who make the remembrances of Pongal to be very personal and very enjoyable,

kodvasri

ADVENT OF THE NEW YEAR

Every New Year , brings its own charms.It is the individuals who make a difference to it , based on their mood sets.

It has become customary for almost, with out exception to sit in front of TVs waiting to see that the clock strikes zero hours so that they can wish the near and dear a very happy new year.

Crackers are burst, telephones suddenly comes to life with non stop ringing at mid night, Drinks (hard and mild) flow like water , Prayers are offered at Churches and at times in temples too.

In all the glee and momentum that follows, the flaws committed in the yester year are given a go by, the challenges awaiting in the new year are consciously forgotten and the moment per se is enjoyed and enlivened.

If it can give a boost to energy levels by celebrating the new year, why not we celebrate each dawn like the same way.After all it is a new ray of hope and a new dawn of life as one never knows as to weather the sleep overnight is temparary or permanant.

AS the famous Tamil Poet Thiru valluvar said "Uranguvathupolum sakkadu, urangi vizhippathu polum pirappu", each dawn calls for a celbration, irrespective of our mind sets as it is a boon offered to us to live one more day.

And here comes the great poetic words of Maha Kavi Subramanya Bahrathiar when he declared
'indru puthithai piranthom".

Yes in what better manner, one can overcome the past and enter in tom the future, tahn by simply declaring 'i am born afresh'.

Let the messsage sink in you.Enjoy the day as the day is the only day that is available to you to do all that is good, all that is helpful all that will make you at peace.Repeat that every day. see what a difference that it has made to your lives.

all the best to each one of you on this happy new year , this day and every day to follow.

Seems like a belated greeting..Is it not1, To greet any one, every moment is good..is it not!!

See you later when some thoughts flow..worthwhile(?) to be recorded in the blog.