Sumangali prarthanai!:-))

The first time I heard it was before my marriage! Every woman just jumps into a hyperzone hearing it, especially the ones I encountered!:-)

In Hindu tradition, there are a series of samskaras starting at birth and ending with one's death. An year after a person's death, a ceremony called Shrardham / divasam meaning a day of remembrance is observed. When women die without a child or without a valid heir who could perform this or for women who didn't get married and those who died young, Sumangali Prarthanai is observed.

This is done by the mother-in law and the daughter-in-law. The daughters who are married are invited to accept the offerings! What's this OFFERING?

It is an elaborately cooked meal, consisting of rice, only certain kind of vegetables and some savouries!

A count of 5 and the odd numbers succeeding are invited and two girls under the age of 10 are included! All the ladies are invited the day before by given a pack of herbal bathing powder, henna, turmeric and kunkum (used by married women).

The next day, they are required to use the given items to take bath, wash their hair and wear a nine yard saree and attend the function.

These clothes should belong to the madi vastram category! NOW, WHAT IS MADI?

In the olden days, people were very particular about this! There was atleast one set of cloth washed, dried and kept separately, that could be used during any sacred, purifying ritual.

I recently learned that even if its a new, silk one it has to be washed, dried and kept separately!

Once the invitees arrive, they are served the meal on a plantain leaf. A separate leaf is kept in remembrance of all departed souls! Once the invitees finish their meal, they are served panakam.made of jaggery, water and other digestion aiding ingredients! One can also serve buttermilk, then comes betel leaf and nut. All these help in digestion.

Once,this part is over, the ladies are offered decorative items like kajal(for eyes), henna, comb, bangles, turmeric, bindi/kunkum! Anything that beautifies!:-)

If the daughters are unavailable due to some reasons, one can invite some other women too!

Many are quite tense and uptight during these ceremonies, turning it into a very serious issue! In my humble opinion, all those who lived with us were our mothers, grandmothers and other blood relatives! People who'd never think of hurting us! Just because they've departed doesn't turn them into mindless monsters! I personally believe they watch over us, guard us and won't punish us severely! I know, because I will be all forgiving! So, though the ceremony requires sincerity, concentration and a pure body and mind, every single thing doesn't need to be approached with such FEAR!

Everyone's friend,
Seetha Lakshmi R S. :-)

Tamil New Year / Vishu Punya Kalam!:-)

My country, India, is Home to a varied and diverse culture. Most of the cultures have a lunar calendar. The New Years are based on this. Every year the Telugu and Kannada New Year Ugadi and the North Indian Vikram Samwat fall nearabout on the same day. Being a Tamilian, i'll write whatever little I know about the Tamil New Year! :-)

As a kid, I'd be surprised to see my parents celebrate two New Years. One on the 1st of Jan of the Gregorian calendar and another one on 14th or 15th of April. I just thought it was yet another festival celebrated till my 10th birthday.

Then I had the intelligence to ask it one year! :-) My Mom was only pleased to help me out. This is what she shared, it falls on the first day of the Tamil calendar. There are 12 Tamil months:
சித்திரை  Chithirai चैत्र
வைகாசி Vaigasi वैशाख
ஆனி Aani
ஆடி Aadi आषाढ
ஆவணி Aavani श्रावण
புரட்டாசி Purattasi
ஐப்பசி Ippasi
கார்த்திகை Kaarthigai कार्तिक
மார்கழி Maargazhi मार्गशीर्ष
தை Thai
மாசி Maasi माघ
பங்குனி Panguni

And the New Year starts on the first day of Chithirai. This is also known as Vishu Punya Kaalam. A day before my parents used to decorate the Puja room with a traditional kolam, place a small wood seat or manai on it, place a silver plate containing rice on it. The a mirror would be kept on it, that would be decorated with a jasmine garland and a golden necklace.

There would two halves of coconut, in two exact rounds placed before the mirror. It would be filled up with gold and silver coins. Along with these, lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables like, Jackfruit, Mango, both raw and ripe, yellow cucumber, Bananas, apples etc. would be kept. They would also place betel leaves and nuts.

A silver or brass lamp would be lit and kept burning throughout the night. The next day, i;e on the New Year, my mom would wake me up, cover my eyes with her hands and lead a very sleepy me to the Puja room. Then she'd ask me to look at the lit lamp, flowers, fruits, my reflection in the mirror, all the other things kept there and finally take the coins out and ask us to touch our eyes with them. Them she'd meticulously put them back in their place. The same routine would be repeated with every child at home.

Then everyone of us would take an oil bath, wear new clothes, touch the feet of all the elders at home. This came with an advantage. The elders would pay us some coins for a blessing, some of us would spend it and others like me, used to save it as a luck for the whole year. Then we'd all visit the nearest temple and be back just in time for a sumptuous lunch. Those were the days, when I could eat my heart out without having to worry about the CALORIES! SIGH!:-( The feast would comprise of Aviyal (kind of gravy), Sambhar, Rasam, potato curry, Appalams, Payasam and a pacchadi (chutney)!

The pachadi is really important, as it comprises six different tastes, namely, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, salty and astringent!

We see the mirror and all the bounty, so that our lives are prosperous and filled with all positive things and attract bounty. The chutney mentioned above shows how every phase in life is in a repetitive cycle and one has to accept everything with GRACE.

If I find anything more, I'll add it here. As for now, enjoy the summer!

Everyone's friend,
Seetha Lakshmi R. Srinivasan. :-)))

Upanayanam

உ

ஸ்ரீ ராம ஜெயம்  

திருத்தணி முருகன் துணை 

 



உபநயன பிரஹ்மமோபதேச சுபமுஹூர்த்த பத்திரிகை

மஹா - ஸ்ரீ  ...................................................................... அவர்களுக்கு

அநேக  நமஸ்காரம் / ஆசீர்வாதம் / உபயக்ஷேமோபரி

நிகழும் ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ  மங்களகரமான மன்மத வருஷம் வைகாசி மாதம், 24ம் தேதி, (07-06-2015), ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, பஞ்சமி திதி, திருவோண நக்ஷத்திரம், அமிர்த யோகம் கூடிய சுபயோக சுபதினத்தில் , உதயாதி நாழிகை காலை 7:30 மணிக்குக்கு மேல் , 11:15 மணிக்குள், (காலை 9:00 மணிக்கு மேல், 10:30 மணிக்குள் ) கடக லக்னத்தில் ,


கோவிலூர் S.கபாலீச்வரன் என்கிற என்னுடைய, பௌத்திரனும்  ,
நேம்மாரை ஸ்வர்கஸ்ரீ R .ராஜன் அவருடைய தௌஹித்திரனும்,
எனது இளைய புத்திரன்  ஸ்ரீ  K . ஸ்ரீநிவாசன் அவருடைய புத்திரனுமாகிய

சிரஞ்சீவி , S .அஷ்வின்  என்கிற ஸ்ரீ ராம சுப்ரமண்ய சர்மா விற்கு 

உபநயன பிரஹ்மோபதேசம்  செய்வதாய், ஈச்வர கிருபையை முன்னிட்டும் , காஞ்சி ஜகத்குரு சங்கராச்சார்ய சுவாமிகளின் அனுக்கிரகத்தை முன்னிட்டும், பெரியோர்களால் நிச்சயிக்கபெற்று மேற்படி சுபமுகூர்த்தம்,
ஸ்ரீ சிவயோகாம்பாள்  மினி ஹாலில் (கனரா பாங்க்  அருகில்)
3வது தெரு, போஸ்டல் காலனி, மேற்கு மாம்பலம், சென்னை - 600 033,  
 நடக்கிறபடியால் , தாங்கள், தங்கள் இஷ்டமித்திர பந்துக்களுடன், முன்னதாகவே வந்திருந்து வடுவை ஆசீர்வதித்து, எங்களையும்  கௌரவிக்கும்படி கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன் .

                                                                               இப்படிக்கு,

K .சுப்ரமணியன் ,                                                  S.கபாலீச்வரன்,
K.ஸ்ரீனிவாசன்   & சீதாலக்ஷ்மி ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் ,
No 5A, Jawahar Street,
Thirupathi Nagar 4th Main Road Extn,
Kolathur,Chennai - 600 099.
09949999980, 044-25561467.

Karadaiyaan / Kaaradai Nonbu! :-)))

காரடையான் நோன்பு 

Karadai - adai is a flat discus shaped savoury made with crab eyed beans / लोबिया (Lobia in Hindi) காராமணி (Kaaraamani In tamil) jaggery and rice flour. Nonbu means fasting or vratham. This festival is also known as Savithri (सावित्री / சாவித்திரி / ఆవిత్రి / സാവിത്രി )Vratham. The legend has it that Savithri the princess daughter of Raja Ashvapti was born to him after he did penances / Tapasya / तपस्या to Lord Surya / Sun God / Savithr! Hence the name Savithri!

She was not only beautiful but also well versed in many other things. She was also intelligent and witty! It was this trait of hers that saved her husband's life. Like scores of other parents, hers too wanted to find a suitable life partner for her! :-)) But she expressed her desire to choose a life partner for herself. So, she along with some of her friends set out on a chariot in her search. She visited many places but at last gave away her heart to the handsome Satyavan (सत्यवान / சத்யவான் / సత్యవాన్ / സത്യവാൻ )! 

Her parents were disappointed to learn that she has chosen a hermit to marry! But further enquiries revealed that Satyavan, who was living with his parents in a humble hut in the forest was a prince and his father, King Dyumatsena, had lost his kingdom in a battle! Hence they half heartedly gave away their darling daughter in marriage to Satyavan! But Satyavan was not destined to live long. When Savitri came to know of this, she didn't run away but with her strong determination and beautiful heart, she became Satyavan's better half. She believed that it is not quantity, rather the quality of time she'd spend with her husband.

But as days went by, her heart grew fond of Satyavan and she thought of ways on regarding how to extend his life! So, she started taking up lots of vrathams and pujas for her husband's well being. And when the day came nearer, she pleaded with Satyavan to not to go to the forest. But, a dutiful son that he was, he said he had to go to provide for his parents and her. Seeing no result with the pleading, Savithri finally set out to the forest with him. Satyvan suddenly fell to the ground complaining of some dizziness and lay down on Savithri's lap. She knew his time had come! She was exasperated! Because of her austerities, she could see Lord Yama (यम / யமன் / యమధర్మరాజు / യമാധർമരാജൻ ) (The God of Death in Hindu mythology) riding his buffalo and with his pasha (Rope). As he bound Satyavan's soul in the Pasha and was about to leave, Savithri started following him!

Normally all humans are bound to Earth and no one can leave the Earth in their physical form, but Savithri could! Lord Yama was shocked beyond words, he asked her to go back to Earth immediately, but Savithri replied that she was simply being a dutiful wife and being Satyavan's better half was following him! Lord Yama explained that she couldn't come as her time had not come and choose a wish for herself. This happened three times and Lord Yama was finally defeated by the witty Savithri and he had to give back Satyavan's life. The three wishes are:

1.  Let my Father-in-law's kingdom and vision be restored!
2.  Let my parents be blessed with a hundred sons!
3.  May I be  blessed with a hundred sons!

The third boon did it, in those days, women were married only once and were devout till death and never thought of getting remarried! Hence to grant Savithri's last wish, Lord Yama had no choice but to give her back her husband's life! After this, Savithri and Sathyavan came back only to witness the parent's vision and kingdom being restored! As a token of her gratitude, Savithri performed a puja / worship to Lord Yama, offering him a savoury made of crab eyed beans and un melted butter.

Savithri is nothing short of a Goddess to all Indian women! She is an epitome of strength, devotion and undying faith! :-)))

END! 

Now, this vratham / Nonbu is taken up by a married woman to pray for the well being of her husband. It is observed at the exact moment where Magha(Maasi / மாசி  in tamil) and Falguna (பங்குனி in Tamil) month meet, i;e one ends and the other starts! On this day, women get up early, take a bath and wear the traditional wear saree (6 yards / 9 yards). Very much like Savithri, they too make a sweet and salty dish prepared with crab eyed beans along with un melted butter!

The underlying philosophy behind the adai and un melted butter is that women should be strong and unrelenting like the un melted butter at times but also display their soft heartedness when needed and not the opposite! This philosophy is something I read in a book many years ago! :-))) Women also tie a yellow coloured thread / Saradu (சரடு in tamil, सूत्रं in Sanskrit) around their neck. One of the elderly women in the family used to get it tied by her husband, the underlying faith being, that it increases the togetherness between spouses! :-)) This year the festival falls on 15th of March, 2015. I'm yet to know the exact time! :-))

All these festivals are observed to revive the old traditions and values which are slowly fading away! Besides, the aforementioned savoury is a healthy one, as it is steamed! Now, I'm not an expert in culinary art, I'm providing a link to the savoury written by my darling little sister, Mira, who has an undying passion for cooking! I'm trying to learn from her and many others like her! :-)))


http://my-hobby-lounge.blogspot.in/2013/03/nonbu-adais-sweet-as-well-as-salt.html
Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 

 

TURMERIC! :-))

Turmeric, the word itself is enough to take me down memory lane. The smell is heavenly! Mom used to add it to the gravies and side dishes generously, when asked would say, "because, it kills all germs!" Yes! It does! It is an ANTISEPTIC, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTI-OXIDANT, IMMUNITY BOOSTER, SKIN TONER, among many other things.

Turmeric is called हल्दी (Haldi) in Hindi, மஞ்சள் / Manjal in Tamizh, മഞ്ഞള  in (Malayalam) and పసుపు  (pasupu) in Telugu! These are the only languages I know as of now! :-)))

It is an underground stem. It has an ingredient called curcumin which gives it is healthy properties. Turmeric is bright yellow in colour. Turmeric is rich in dietary fibre, potassium, magnesium, iron and vitamin B6. A wonderful thing about it is that it is non-calorific and contains roughly about 24 calories in 1 teaspoon! :-))) It adds colour and flavour when used in cooking. Almost every housewife in India must be using it in every salty and spicy dish.

As I entered teenage, the hormone reared its ugly head and started giving me nightmares with bodily, especially facial hair. Though, my mother was always in favour of using turmeric paste, I found it too messy, time-consuming and uncomfortable and also the after pack colour that it left on the face! :-( So I happily reached out to all the hair removing creams, bleach etc. Now in my middle age, I find that mother has indeed been right, yes the process would have been slow but it would also have been less harmful!

Now turmeric is used in my country that is India in almost all auspicious functions. In south, we make little un shapely Ganeshas out of turmeric paste and worship it. In weddings, the bride and in some other cultures, the groom too is smeared with turmeric paste before taking bath or at least the water to be used is sprinkled with turmeric for the very reason that it is anti bacterial! Sometimes, the paste also contains certain other skin enhancing materials like Chandan (Sandalwood), Neem (Azadirachta Indica)! All these are very good in rectifying skin problems and sorry for repeating, anti-bacterial!

Before wearing any new dress my mother used to smear it with turmeric paste, only a little, otherwise it would've stained the cloth! Now, I understand, the reason behind that! My country is huge and lot many people live in it. Who knows how many hands might have caressed that dress before it finally landed on my lap! Hence the turmeric treatment!

In the olden days, when someone visited a person who had contracted a contagious fever / disease, they were asked to wash their feet with turmeric water before entering and after leaving the house.

Even now, in temples, turmeric / its paste is given as prashad! My country gets very hot during summer and hence people take turmeric bath to keep away sweaty odour and also to keep skin allergies at bay.

After delivering my kids, I was asked to take turmeric bath daily. I didn't understand its significance then, but as the months went by, I could see a significant change in skin tone and since then I've been a fan of turmeric. I make it a point to use it in my weekly face pack. It goes like this:

Besan / Gram Flour                          - 2 tsps.
Milk / Cream / Curd                         - 4 teaspoons
Turmeric                                           - 1 or 2 pinch (es)

Depending upon the skin type milk, cream or curd could be used. Its excellent, clears skin, removes tan and tones the skin and if used regularly gets rid of soft facial hair! :-)))

Now researchers have found that cancer is effective in curing CANCER! If a warm glass of water to which 1 teaspoon of turmeric is added, is had daily in the morning on an empty stomach, cures the body of many diseases and also detoxifies! :-))) It helps in weight - loss and other obesity related problems!
During my childhood, whenever I had cough, my mother used to give me a glass of hot milk sprinkled with turmeric, now I know it soothes the cough-suffered throat!

I see many Telugu houses and have seen some houses in my native place Tamil Nadu too, where ladies apply a coat of turmeric paste every Friday or before festivals, near the house entrance. Now I know, it prevents pests like ants, spiders etc. from entering the household! :-))) Hence, turmeric is a great PESTICIDE too!

It is used to dye clothes. Clothes especially white ones are dyed in turmeric water before weddings and other life-altering auspicious functions. It is a symbol of purity, prosperity and fertility!

In temples the idols of Gods are bathed in turmeric water, this process is called Abhishekam.

It is not to be used by pregnant women, yes maybe, but with caution, excessive use may increase the time of blood clotting, which is important in case of injuries.

Well! Everything has a POSITIVE as well as a NEGATIVE side to it. I just felt like sharing information about turmeric with my family, which comprises everyone on this planet and also give all a peek into my Kalachaaram / Culture.


SO MY VOTE GOES TO TURMERIC!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

Some pics are given below:

 

GANESHA!

Ganesha, the name itself evokes many sweet memories. In Hindusim, we have many forms of the same GOD! The scriptures or the Vedas, say that GOD is formless, can't be fit into a particular gender, caste, or anything else either. If we say NOTHING! we can't comprehend that, but that's what GOD has been described as MAHASHUNYA! Recently, researchers have also revealed that our Universe didn't form after a BIG BANG! There was nothing before it was, the Universe just came into being.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT! Likewise if I'm and score of others like me are not given a particular form of GOD, it would be quite difficult to comprehend! (I SUPPOSE!) GOD is everywhere, in everything or everyone, animal, human and the list goes on. The Vedas agree on that and that's why Hindus worship, Earth, Rivers, certain plants and trees, books, tools, the five elements and the list goes on..... I've still got to learn that! :-))

Coming back to Ganesha, he is the son of Lord Shiva (One of the trinities) and Goddess Parvathi! He was born with a human like head. He was guarding the chambers of Goddess Parvathi, when Lord Shiva tried to get in her chambers, but was prevented by Ganesha. Shiva got angry and cut off Ganesha's head with his trident! Parvathi was grief stricken and wanted her son back! So Ganesha's head was reinstated with an elephant's ! From then on, he has a human body and an elephant's head!

As a kid, while doing my daily prayers, my mother would show me a picture of Ganesha and tell me that he was a very friendly GOD and one could initiate him immediately. All one needed was unshaken faith and belief! As a kid, I never understood GOD, but with time, I saw a good friend, with whom I could share all my thoughts! This may sound a bit odd, but even now I have these small (sometimes long!) conversations with GOD. My day starts with a humble prayer that goes like this:

त्वमेव माता च, पिता त्वमेव।  त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम्  त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम  देवदेव।

अन्यथा शरणं  नास्ति त्वमेव शरणं  मम 
तस्मात् कारुण्य भावेन  रक्ष रक्ष जनार्दन 

The first shloka means that : You are my mother, father, relative and friend, You are knowledge and all the wealth in the world, in fact you are everything to me O Lord!

The second one means that : I have no one else to go, you are my only refuge, so, kindly take me into your protection, O Lord!

One about Lord Ganesha:

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ निर्विघ्नं कुरु में देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा 

Meaning: O lord with a twisted trunk, huge form, with the effulgence of a crore Suns, kindly bless all the work I undertake be free of any obstacles.

This shloka also reveals that Ganesha is an obstacle remover and hence is worshipped the first and foremost before undertaking any work.

ஐந்து கரத்தானை , ஆனை  முகத்தானை, இந்திந்திளம் பிறை போலும் எயிற்றானை 
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுதினை , புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின்றேனே .

I do talk my mother tongue, ie Tamil very well, but this verse is in Literary form and hence I couldn't translate into a lucid form, Hence I've just reproduced someone else's translation below:


                                        We emplace in our minds

The sacred feet of the One

The embodiment of wisdom

The five handed

Elephant Visaged- with tusks

Curved like the crescent moon

The son of the Supreme Siva.

 

 

Everyone's friend,

 

Lakshmi! :-)))

Holi - The Festival of Colours! :-)))

होली है भई , होली है. 

बुरा न मानो होली है। 

The above statement in Hindi, means that since today is Holi, let's forget and forgive each other and please do not take any offence on this playful festival.

Today is Holi! A festival of colours celebrated mostly in North of India and nowadays in almost all the parts of India! It is a spring festival, falls on the full moon day or Purnima. Holi has derived its name from Holika, Now, Who is this? Holika was the sister of the demon Hiranyakashyap. Hirankashyap had received many boons from Lord Brahma (One of the Hindu Trinities) after a very long penance (Tapas). Initially, he wanted to live forever, but that was not permissible according to rules. One that has born, has to die one day. Hence when asked to choose something else for a boon, he intelligently asked this:

Let my death, not be by a man, or an animal, nor by any weapon that was in use at that time, neither at night nor in day, not in the house and also not outside it and the list went on. He thought that he couldn't die like this. Anyway, Lord Brahma gave him the boon. With such POWER, comes ...... YES! ARROGANCE! He started driving all the devas (the gods) from their abodes and conquered their places. He not only conquered heaven, but also Earth!

He made a rule that from then on, everyone should take his name and not of God's, especially, Lord Vishnu! He was blessed with a son and unfortunately for him, his son was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He tried killing his son many times, but it didn't happen and one of these were using Holika, his sister. Holika had the boon that fire won't harm her at all. Hence she proposed that Prahlad (Hiranyakashyap's son!) be seated on her lap, while she will sit on a pyre. Nothing happened to Prahlada, but Holika was burnt alive.

A day before Holi, a bonfire is lit, people go around it singing songs. The actual spiritual meaning that underlies in any festival that involves lighting a bonfire is to dispose off all bad or negative aspects from one's life and embrace the good or positive. Not many know of this, but nevertheless its a great time to be with friends, family members and loved ones! YAY! PARTY TIME!

The next day is Holi (FINALLY! I've got back to the subject!). People smear each other with lots of colours, sing songs, have a gala time! The main snacks served on this day are Gujias, (Triangle shaped savouries, with a sweet filling, and deep-fried in hot oil) and Thandai. Thandai is usually spiced up with Bhang, (English Name-cannabis, I Think). Those who want to get a little high and energetic have Thandai with Bhang and other poor souls like me opt for the Bhang-free Thandai!

My childhood memories consists of Holi starting with roaming about with friends, smearing each other with gulals (coloured powders) and drenching each other with Pichkari (A pistol, used to fill colour and spray). Pichakri was available in lots of shapes, mostly based on the current trend, my favourite was a Gun shaped and an elephant-shaped one!

I'm giving below a link to a holi song, that's still played on TV, on Holi!

Everyone's friend,

Lakshmi! :-)))

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMsWs64WLU

What's in a name?!

My name is Lakshmi! I was.given the name Seetha Lakshmi, in the memory of my paternal grandmother! Though she has four granddaughters, I'm the lucky one to have inherited her name.

As a child, I was not very happy with my name, as I felt it was funny to have two different names combined as one. Seetha and Lakshmi! I.was also made fun of. Some would call me Seetha and some Lakshmi.

My name means:
Seetha-Cool/Mud
Lakshmi-Goddess of WEALTH!

According to Ramayana, most revered of by Hindus, Goddess Seetha, the consort of Lord Rama was believed to have come out of Mother Earth's womb, and hence the name! Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who else but an incarnation of his consort Goddess Lakshmi be his wife on Earth?!

Hence the name Seetha Lakshmi! I love my name very much! Though most of my family and close friends call me Lakshmi. Surprisingly, my better half's name is Srinivasan, one of the 1000 names assigned to.Lord Vishnu!

Everyone's friend,
Lakshmi! :-)))

My culture! :-))

I've been meaning to write a blog on what my heritage and culture is all about! Now that I'm unwell and not doing much of my routine work I've been gifted with enough time to pursue this, I;e scratch my itch! :-)

I'd be writing about all that I've been gifted to by my family, immediate and extended, the treasury of culture

I belong to a family of Palakkad Tamil Brahmins! Though, I had the fortune of visiting certain parts of India, courtesy my father's job, my mom imbued me with all the culture, tradition and values, that are unique to my family!

I'll be adding everything that falls under this broad spectrum, of course, with invaluable.inputs from my Amma and other well-informed people of my family!
Lakshmi!  :-)))