Vinayaka Chathurthi

Almost a year ago, I had pondered on this subject of celebrating festivals...

Among the few festivals I manage to celebrate to my satisfaction since Ana arrived, Vinayaka Chathurthy is significant, a few others being Gokula Ashtami, Navarathri, Deepavali, Arudra/Thiruvadirai, Karthigai, Karadayan Nonbu and, of course, Vishu - the New Year.

Apart from the symbolism and the ceremony, each festival has its own special menu. What inspires me nowadays to celebrate many of the festivals I grew up with is: mellow and subdued observances we have established at home, solemn, meaningful and simple rituals, quite modest and austere, and of course, the opportunity to present the festival menu items for Ana's sampling...

Poorna Kozhakattai Recipe

Unfortunately, Ana is down with something, probably a combination of things: her daycare cautioned us that there is a stomach virus going around the center that causes diarrhea, plus, Ana has been suffering a bout of cold for about a week now which has climaxed to hacking cough when she is horizontal... so, she was not in the mood at all today to get dolled up in traditional clothes and join me in the simple ceremony, like she was for Gokula Ashtami a few weeks ago.

But, she did sit with me for the nivedhyam followed by neerajanam. And gleefully tried the poorna kozhakattai, aka modakam afterwards.