IN THE NAME OF.........

After the new year the much awaited thai thirunaal(Pongal festival)was approaching and now when I am writing this blog it is over

I have been assimilating the last few days that have passed thro and gapping about the cultural metamorphosis

 that I have witnessed in the last 3 decades. The arrival of pongal/sankarathi meant ,the arrival of a new dawn, a new beginning where people expect all nice things TO unfold with the new month thai(tamil calander).and the previous day Bogi (lohri)is dedicated to the god Varun.

Preparations for celebrating these festivals would have a head start a few days ahead, where people would clean their Homes, give it a new white wash, Swap their houses wit cow dung(if in a village with a mud floor)decorate it with kolams(rangoli minus colour) and border it with red sand paste .while in other areas. Each house would be adorned with big kolams nicely spread against the yellow green background of mud , which is again sprinkled with water mixed with cow dung. which is presumed to bring in lots of prosperity. While this happens on the home front, commercially the arrival of small drums, sugarcane and turmeric plants used to flood the markets and streets.

Lighting the bhogi (bonn fire )with all used discarded items against the drum beat shouting "bhogi " was followed as a ritual and we would get busy in collecting these items and the accessories like rods sticks, paper, kerosene, candles and the bundled clothes would be our highest procession for the day ,while others go in search of discarded tyres  twigs etc. etc. There was a pride in claiming who was the earliest person to light the fire and also how long we could sustain the burning. every one of us as kids would hardly

Wink a sleep and wait for the arrival of 3.am,only to jump out to set the bonn fire on ,while we are enjoying this ,we would also be joined by our parents, for a while who would also stare into the blazing fire warming up their palms and legs against the coldness.

Bhogi was also welcomed for it was a day of celebration- where you would be fed with  Non -veg food, your break fast naturally being IDILI  with mutton gravy accompanied with vada.and much more

Now let me see how my day of bhogi was celebrated a few days back, my kids did not have the least inclination of organizing a bonn fire, so they skipped the process of collecting discarded item, I did not involve in going for a color wash because its too costly an affair so cannot be taken every year, I tried to persuade them to wake up a light a small fire this too failed because more than the kids I too wanted to enjoy the extended sleep of a holiday.(it had an overriding priority )I was kind of settled with eating a routine breakfast instead of straining myself with extra efforts of making some special dish, so boghi ended up in a very routine note, I think I need not say about Pongal,because it would have followed suite.

But recounting this I was just wondering what our children are really missing,

Well I could recollect the following

WE used to walk and our shadows used to follow us some times in front OF US, some times at our side

We used to make attempts to stamp our shadows this we could do because we were sure that we are not going to bump intoAny vehicle or no one will knock you off.

We used to welcome current cuts, because it would give you a respite from reading and you can go out and play in the darkForm images in the candle light,  using your hands like a deer,dog or man scream or shout,

We used to walkalong with the moon, seeing steadily at it looking up, sure that no one is going to interrupt your moon walk. AND  also trying to see the Old lady there who keeps making vada as told by our parents during our bed time story.

We could do a nights star gazing; count stars see falling stars and even see a meteorite at times,and those moving clouds against the moon light sky
We could play with mud and sand soiling our clothes, fish in muddled water, get wet in rain ,climb trees  and do what not

These are just a few things but what they are missing and what we have failed to give to our children would  be endless, but  do we not attribute this for the following.

IN THE NAME OF saving our environment, we have stopped burning

IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING our precious child, we deny their interest to adventure

IN THE NAME OF development we have lost large landscapes and open spaces where we hardly get a glimpse of the open sky

IN THE NAME  of affluence, our kids have forgotten to walk ,jump and jog

IN THE NAME of laziness we have forgotten our culture……AND

IN THE NAME OF GOD let us bring back those small happiness into our life,and pass on our tradition to our young ones