Vishu at Gmomz!

Crisply starched and white mundu, a divine smile that reaches the twinkling eyes that sparkle below a dab of sandal paste...fingers that keep moving to silent mantras ... even as she is smiling upon ,conversing and listening to you,somewhere deep within her the chants kept running.

At 80+, my Muthashi(maternal grandmom) who lives alone at our family house, leads a very pious and disciplined life. She has been through a lot in her lifetime....testing shocking times, yet never have I seen her more than mildly disturbed,leave alone shattered. She carries with her this silent aura of peace which seems to give her a strength that I have admired so many a times.

Being a Keralite brought up in Tamil Nadu, after 24 years I celebrated my first Vishu at my native place. I had heard so much about the way the malayalam new year was celebrated traditionally and I couldn't wait to see it for myself.

It was beautiful. All my senses are a witness to it. At 3.30 in the dawn, my mom nudged me awake from my deep sleep.She was covering my eyes.I got up and groped around in the darkness holding on to my mom,then the walls and finally the rail of the tricky steep wooden planked strairs and found my way downstairs. I could hear my mom close behind me watchful of every step I took. I took the right turns and brought myself to the door of the Puja room.
The fragrance of the incense sticks and flowers grabbed me.I knew my Grandmom was inside the puja room. I realised someone was washing my feet so that I could enter.My muthashi took charge now....gently turning me to face God's photos and asking me to think of the Lord and finally the moment came ...and I was asked to open my eyes.

I was excited at what I would be seeing and also nervous about where I would end up looking.I wanted to gaze into Krishnan Imbatti's photo,the one that has been a favorite from my childhood vacations in Kerala.Even as my eyes were closed I could feel the warm glow of deepams lit and when I did open... it was a sight that I know will stay with me for good.I remember thinking that I should do this for my kids.There were the lovely "konna poo" without which Vishu kani simply wouldn't exist.Also placed on a bronze plate were some coconuts,white folded cloth and sandal. I prayed for a few seconds.I felt the chill of sandal on my forehead. The next in list was the "kai neetam" where elders in the family bless the younger ones and give them money...something that kids look forward to for their pocket money.I earned a precious twenty rupees that day.Ten from muthashi and 10 from mom.Falling at momz feet and her blessing me,we both found funny considering the fact that I normally play with her like I do with my peer.SoI kissed her feet and called her "Loosy bommae"..something I am sure my muthashi wouldn't have been shocked to hear!

Anyway,it was only around four in the morning.So without a second thought ,having this great feeling within, I crashed into wonderland wondering what the year was going to bring me.