The day had begun, as usual, with an air of festivity hanging all around. Today happens to be the last day of the month of 'Karkkidakam' on the Malayalam calendar.
The recital of the Ramayana has been going on over the month in two sessions everyday viz. in the morning around 7 and in the evening, again around 7. It's believed that it was during these times that Lord Rama's most favourite disciple, Hanuman recited the sacred book and it's considered appropriate that the same timings are adhered to for maximum effect! The lady of the house, usually, or any elder lady performs this deed. Mom used to read a line symbolically every time before Lekha went about the recital.
The evening walk was invigorating and as I entered the house, Lekha was winding up the last few verses and followed it up with the customary 'arathi'. The 'thirumadhuram'(a mix of roundly cut plantains, jaggery and sugar) that was on offer to the deities was distributed towards the end, marking the culmination of the month long efforts.
Soon after, my sister, Rema and Padmakumar had fetched up from Palakkad and their son, Achu followed them from his workplace at Kochi making it a noisy and boisterous evening. Mom was thoroughly excited and it was a pleasure seeing her in that state! We'd talked and talked to catch up from where we'd left last.
The late evening was wound up by placing all the waste material, neatly stacked into two portions, at the garbage spot because the saying has it that all the 'year long refuse' has to be ejected out of the house by the end of the day to herald the month of 'Chingam' tomorrow!
Tailpiece.
The Kodak moment of the day was the lighting up of mom's face on seeing my sister! Simply priceless!!
The recital of the Ramayana has been going on over the month in two sessions everyday viz. in the morning around 7 and in the evening, again around 7. It's believed that it was during these times that Lord Rama's most favourite disciple, Hanuman recited the sacred book and it's considered appropriate that the same timings are adhered to for maximum effect! The lady of the house, usually, or any elder lady performs this deed. Mom used to read a line symbolically every time before Lekha went about the recital.
The evening walk was invigorating and as I entered the house, Lekha was winding up the last few verses and followed it up with the customary 'arathi'. The 'thirumadhuram'(a mix of roundly cut plantains, jaggery and sugar) that was on offer to the deities was distributed towards the end, marking the culmination of the month long efforts.
Soon after, my sister, Rema and Padmakumar had fetched up from Palakkad and their son, Achu followed them from his workplace at Kochi making it a noisy and boisterous evening. Mom was thoroughly excited and it was a pleasure seeing her in that state! We'd talked and talked to catch up from where we'd left last.
The late evening was wound up by placing all the waste material, neatly stacked into two portions, at the garbage spot because the saying has it that all the 'year long refuse' has to be ejected out of the house by the end of the day to herald the month of 'Chingam' tomorrow!
Tailpiece.
The Kodak moment of the day was the lighting up of mom's face on seeing my sister! Simply priceless!!
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