Special Mom’s blog

My phone calendar shows Diwali is November 1st. If the Western world thinks that is the only festival we enjoy or celebrate I am sorry that is just one of many.

In fact our household festive season began yesterday with Varalakshmi pooja. It will soon be followed by Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Jayanthi, Navaratri and then it will end with Diwali.

In fact Raksha bandan is on Monday, not celebrated by our family but we have Rig Upakarma on Sunday to compensate.

So what does this all mean? Food, cooking, socializing and more food! My instant pot gave up on me while I was trying to make paal payasam or rice porridge. But having done two mindfulness course I was patient. I began making the dishes early and I had ample time to fix. I was not stressed 😊.

My son found the jaggery bottle and me decided I was not going to fight it. Yes, some battles need to be lost! He was glad I did not call him into the kitchen. But it is not going to be like that next week when we celebrate Krishna Jayanthi. It is my Lord Krishna’s birthday. It is going to be a ton of snacks and we plan to celebrate early as his brother leaves for college.

As I age, I have understood the meaning of these rituals. I play a recorded audio of a priest teaching the same for yesterday’s pooja. I had done the same mechanically many years. But slowly the meaning is sinking in. In fact I enjoyed doing the same.

Cooking with concentration and getting immersed in the decoration of the alter was just an icing on the cake. I do know, I can skip making so many dishes or decorating big time if my body doesn’t allow me. But I will continue to perform the pooja.

Anyway here is a link to Shodashopachara pooja or the 16 step pooja. What is done and how it is done and why it is done is explained.

https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/hindu-puja-instructions/

Here are some pictures from yesterday.