Special Mom’s blog

I wrote this blog nearly 3 years ago, called Pandigai (festivities), so I just copied it today and did some editing.

What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?

Twenty two years back my Mom made her first trip to USA. My special one was 3 and half years old and was a handful and he had multiple sleepless nights. We really needed an extra hand and she made that trip.

During that trip my mother bought with her 3 volumes of Samaithu paar book (a South Indian Vegetarian Cook Book) by Meenakshi Ammal. Once my Mom came kitchen duties went to her and I could concentrate on so many other things. I was also able to learn driving at that time. My Mom in her free time was going over the books. One day she told me, “look at the end of the third volume, maami (the chef) has given meal plan for so many of our festivals”. That made me curious. Though I wasn’t a great cook I loved the concept of celebrating Indian festivals. Varalakshmi Vratham was one festival which we didn’t have in my house when I was growing up. Papu, my paternal grandmother used to say Don’t worry I will marry you to a household that celebrates Varalakshmi vratham. Of course her word, I got married to a household with Varalakshmi Vratham. Every festival has it’s own beauty and maami (chef) had given in detail not only the menu but also what to do on those The month of Aadi, (the period starting July 15) sets in the Tamil festive season. The first day of Aadi by itself is a pandigai (festival). Vadai payasam and morkuzhambhu (food menu) are essential part of it. Of course it accompanies with early morning bath padi kolam and semmen kaavi (rangoli) in the front of the house .

Varalakshmi Pooja and the food offering

My Mom and myself read the entire glossary section thoroughly and when she was leaving after a 4 month stay, she told me just follow all the festivals maami has mentioned in the book. I think that was one of the best advices she gave me.

I didn’t know at that point the intensity of raising a special child. Being young parents we took in one day at a time and did our best. Somedays were hard but looking back I think my hold onto the rituals mentioned in the book kept me going.

Hinduism is a way of life and rituals were adapted so that our physical and mental health are kept at our best.

As years passed along I had another kid which made me not do some pandigais (festivities) but I did continue to hold onto a lot. It did irritate my husband sometimes with my obsession but by the end of the day he has been a real trooper doing his best.

Varalakshmi vratham and Navarathri are the two Devi festivals that I take into my heart and do in a grand way. Autism and Indian rituals do not interact but I think there is some kind of positive energy in those festivals that has kept me going.

Today we celebrated Guru Poornima in our house. The smell of flowers the ghee from the sweet and an early lunch skipping breakfast made me nostalgic as how I began my attachment towards festivities. With most temples having so many restrictions I do hope all of you make your home a temple and bring a positive energy at this time of uncertainty. (Covid time, temples closed, didn’t want to edit it😊)

Guru Poornima

So to answer the WordPress prompt for today, I have added more festivities and traditions than my parents or my in law family did. It has become my way of life. So to make it more interesting, I am adding pictures to the original post.

Krishna Jayanti and food offering (Lord Krishna Birthday and he loves food so much)

Ganesh Chaturthi

Navaratri. (A portion of my Golu or doll display)

Pongal or Sankranti, (Worship of Sun).

Hope you all enjoyed my food and my celebrations. I have scaled down on my the food with oil, other than that my energy has remained the same.