Making of Vadu Manga pickle

Yesterday we bought a kilogram of tiny mangoes which are called vadu manga in Tamil.

They are tiny baby raw mangoes. They fall off the trees on their own without getting a chance to grow big. The fall could be due to strong winds, weak flowers which manage to morph into mangoes but have no sustaining power to grow big, birds' interferance, human intervention, etc.

Whatever the cause for their fall, these mangoes are of no use as they taste sour. But Indian grandmas of the past never let go the opportunity to make something of it! So these were patiently picked, sand and dust washed off them, wiped dry, coated with castor oil, pickled with rock salt until they turned tender in about a week. Finally the free following brine (salt water) was reused to soak up some dry red chillies, mustard seeds of which a fine paste was made and returned back to the glass jar of the salted mangoes. The mangoes are left to soak in the spice newly introduced. The taste is very unique, spicy and tangy. Goes very well with curd rice or dosa.

First picture shows the mangoes being salted. Next they are filled in glass jars and capped tight.

It will take 4 to 5 days to get softer after which the spicy paste will be introduced to give it the bite.

Raw mangoes, raw tamarind, ripe red big chillies, gooseberries and many more are pickled. They are nature's way of heralding the onset of summer in the tropics.

Mahalakshmi.

Deep Slumber

Had been to yet another house where my relative's mother-in-law had passed away. These past few months have seen me attending many death ceremonies.

She had been ailing since a very long time now. Had multiple fractures and corrective surgeries. Yet this person whom we fondly called 'Kaamu Maami' loved and lived life to the hilt.

Her diamond ear studs and nose rings would glitter whenever she turned her head this way and that which was quite often as she loved talking to people.

Two sons and a daughter doted on her and fulfilled every wish she could make known. She was strong willed. Never hesitated to ask for things from husband when he was alive and later her children. Loved kanchipuram silk sarees and leaves behind quite a collection and ditto with matching gold jewellery. She would search for an excuse to buy a silk saree or a piece of jewellery. She would then be raring to attend social functions and meet people, exchange notes, enjoy the food, etc.

She lived life to the fullest. Her sons and daughter attended on her in turns when she took very ill a decade back till her end came today. She took all the help that came her way, she never felt she was a burden for her children. Her eldest son who was visiting his son preponed and arrived 24 hours before the event. Both spent time talking and she had told him she could pass away peacefully now since he has come back to Chennai. She was hanging on to dear life waiting to see her eldest son.

Since she loved good food, I am planning to take a couple of dishes for the family within the next 10 days as is the tradition among us Tambrams (Tamil Brahmins). May her soul rest in deep slumber.

Mahalakshmi.

Sessions

My interest in Tarot card readings started when my sister gifted me a set, while on a visit to Chicago in 1991. She knew my interest and passion for the occult from a young age.

It was fun to self-learn. An opportunity to attend a workshop in Chennai in 2001 by Shri K.B.Gopalakrishnan was an eye-opener of sorts. I re-learnt the basics. I learnt the basics of Vedic Astrology from short term courses conducted by him.

Since then I have been learning and practicing simultaneously. Constantly keep reading up on techniques which will help me hone my skills.

Today he had invited me for session and as usual I rushed to be present. We shared our knowledge. Discussed some charts without revealing particulars of the seekers.

Since his office is near the ancient shiva temple at Vadapalani, Chennai, we visited and prayed.

Went to the office to round off for the day by chanting the navagraha mantras. It was bliss and so peaceful to end the session in such a nice way. We all felt the peace within and parted ways to head back home.

Cheers.

Mahalakshmi

Mom's Delicate Health

Dear Kurnaen, Read your comment and wish you all the best for getting that promotion with good pay and perks. Persevere, have faith and you shall be rewarded sooner!

Mom not keeping too well. Worried about her delicate health these past few months. Age is not on her side too as she's almost 86 now.

There are demands on time but when I think of myself as a baby who depended on her time and what all she must have sacrificed to give me a life then what I do for her in return now is not even interest for that capital! I am glad I am able to give whatever care I can for her in her twilight days.

Cheer is what we can try to spread by sharing.
Mahalakshmi.

Questions And The Cycle Of Life

A man and woman get married.
A child is born. A girl child.
Parents now want to know when a boy child will be born to them. Help! Help!
A boy is also born.
The kids start schooling. If they don't attend school then its Help! Help!
There are stages and ages at which certain questions are asked:
Will our kids do well in studies? If they don't do well, its Help! Help!
What will they study to become - engineer, doctor, lawyer, pilot, accountant, IT, etc.? If they don't pursue education, its Help! Help!
After they do finish their education, its a question of when will they land a job? If they don't land a job, its Help! Help!
After they land a job, will they get due promotions with good pay and perks? If they don't then its Help! Help!
When will they buy their car? If they don't buy a car, the banker will help provided they have a job!
When will they buy their apartment/house/Villa? If they don't buy a house, the banker will help provided they have the paying capacity!
Will they find suitable life partners? If so when?

Now that they have found good life partners, the next question is when will they have children?
Will it be a boy or a girl?

And the story continues with a little twist here and a variation there in every family's history.
This is the template of life. These questions keep coming on and on with every generation. So goes life's cycle.

Happy Sivaratri.
Mahalakshmi

Rishikesh, Hardwar and Manasarovar

When our family visited Delhi for my nephew's wedding little did I realize that my thoughts about mother nature would change forever.

We had a couple of days to visit places around Delhi. Instead of the usual tour of the city we preferred to go to Rishikesh and Hardwar which was some distance away.

Nothing could prepare us for the sights and sounds as we approached Rishikesh. The Ganga gurgling and gushing down with such force, seeing so much pristine water, the hills far away, tall trees and so much green cover on the highway of which I was in awe of.

Hardwar's many temples, our taking a dip in the flowing Ganges, the fast approaching mighty Himalayas as our bus raced, the rudraksh trees, wild and exotic flowers on the wayside, collecting rounded pebbles of varied sizes, shapes and colors on the shores of the Ganges were all such unforgettable memories. They appear so fresh and recent even today even though it is about 9 years since our visit.

Alas we could see neither the morning nor the evening Aarti which is a must-see in these places. I have watched the Ganga Aarti at 6am and 6pm on some TV channel and felt so connected to the divine.

I din't feel like returning back home and wanted to very much stay back there itself and be in close proximity to mother nature. I mentioned to my husband that if I was ever found missing, the place to look for me would be somewhere in Rishikesh or Hardwar. Such was my love for that place. I found a strange peace and quiet in these places.

Manasarover I have not had the chance to visit yet. But in my mind's eye, I have been there. I have gone around the divine lake and have drunk in the beauty of the Mount Meru bathed as if in molten gold at sunrise.

What if I can't physically travel to such places, my mind can and does travel often enough to these places.

Today is Valentine's Day and I dedicate today's blog for my love of these holy places.

Mahalakshmi.

Going, Going, Gone!

Hi Srini S. Welcome aboard.

In my earlier blogs I had mentioned about my neighbour not allowing his daughter to marry a muslim boy from next door. This had been going on for the past 5 or 6 years. The girl has not yet got married to anyone. Instead she has turned hysterical, screaming, banging doors, etc.

It was too much for the other family members to bear. Ultimately and reluctantly they put up their flat for sale. They wanted to perhaps erase their daughter's unpleasant memories by moving away from here.

Just the day before, they told us they were about to leave the place anytime soon. They moved out today in the early hours when all of us were in deep sleep. It was so sad. Three generations had stayed here from the past 52 years and I could see how difficult and painful such a decision was for the entire family just because of their daughter.

In my heart of hearts I wished the girl does not come to any harm, being far away from this place.

Can only wish and pray.

Maha.