Vishu Kanni is an important part of Vishu celebrations in all Mallu households. Being part Mallu (the one that comes from my father), Kanni is a part of the lunisolar new year celebration in my house too. Kanni literally means first view and is the first thing you open your eyes to on the auspicious…
Tag: Indian Festivals
Let Us Prosper
As I was born and brought up in Maharashtra, the Marathi harvest festival/new year (according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar) known as Gudi Padva is a celebration I look forward to. Padva in general means festival or celebration and the Gudi is a “flag” of the Hindu god Brahma (Bhramadhvaj), who is believed to have created time and…
Holier Than Thou
Batashe ki Mala (these are just sugar cubes in a garland) is an integral part of the Holika Dahan (the holy fire that is lit before Rangapanchami or Holi festival). These are quite popular in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. While playing Holi (with Gulaal or Vermilion), batasha-malas are said to ensure cordiality with brother and…
The Merry Crowd
Pune is considered as the cultural capital of Maharashta. To see the city in its full festive glory you need to be there on the morning of Ananth Chathurdashi, or the tenth day of Ganesh Visarjan. With chants of ‘Ganapathi Bappa Moriya’, you will be greeted with the energetic beats of local bands called Dhol…
The Legend of The Lion-God
A few weeks ago, we celebrated the festival of hues, Holi. Ideally, it marks the advent of spring, and people paint each other with non-toxic coloured powder (also known as gulal) to celebrate the blossoming of life after a rather gloomy period from autumn to winter. A day before ranpanchami, Hindus observe the tradition of…
Nine Forms Of Strength
For a country with no solid religion to fall back on, India has made up for it with a strong set of cultural values and social ethos. Before you jump to conclusions, let me explain. Hindusim by and large isn’t as much a religion as it is a way of life; hence it is called…
Krishna Leela!
I don’t know the significance of this idol, but yes I have seen this often at Satyanarayan Pujas around my locality. If you know what this means, please do enlighten us too!
Coloring with Powder
Rangolies are an integral part of Diwali celebrations. Every house sports these colored powder patterns at their door steps, accentuated with diyas and lamps. This one isn’t mine, but a pattern I saw in front of one of the houses. Pretty neat, isn’t it?
Sweet Toothed
Sweets and savouries are an part of celebrations for any festival in India. While some are made specifically for the occasion, Diwali usually sees no such restrictions. It’s that one time of the year when people forget about their crash diets, weight-loss plans, and calorie meters and dig in to the sweet platter on offer….
Snapshots of my World 