Happy Pongal

Iniya Pongal Nalvazhthukkal! 🌾. Wishing a very happy Makar Sankranti / Bihu / Uttarayan to all who celebrate 🌺. The overflowing milk in the Pongal pot signifies abundance and prosperity.

Experiencing different cultures has truly enriched my life. Living in Assam meant celebrating the vibrant Bihu. Delhi gave me the warmth of Lohri. My best friend was from Punjab, and we would wear our brightest clothes, dance around the bonfire, and enjoy the delicious food lovingly prepared by her mother. Though her family had modest means, their home overflowed with warmth and happiness.

My Paati (paternal grandmother) was from Bangalore and spent her married life in Mumbai, so we continue the tradition of making Ellu Bela, a mixture of sesame seeds, jaggery, and other ingredients and sharing it with everyone, saying “Til gul ghya, god god bola.”A simple yet powerful reminder to set aside differences and begin afresh.

In my 29-year koorai pudavai, a Kanjivaram woven for my wedding and received with the blessings of Goddess Kamakshi. Lovely arakku cool wit arai madeam, borders. The first time a woman drapes a 9-yard saree is during her wedding with the help of her future sister-in-law. I have draped it in the Iyer style.