छत की दीवार से सट कर बैठ गए;
थका मन लेकर,
हमारी साँसे और हम।
मासूम नज़रों ने आसमा की तरफ देखा और
तारों से पूछा
कब हम खुद से इतना प्यार करेंगे?
की, जब दुनिया की परवाह न होगी;
बस हम अपनी मस्ती में मस्त होंगे
सुख दुःख, ढोंग से कोसो दूर होंगे।
क्या वक़्त निकल गया है ...
या कोशिश की एक नन्ही आस रखे रहें हम?
कब हम खुदसे इतना प्यार करेंगे?
की इतना दर्द न सहेंगे हम।
...फिर किसी को इतना न अपना कहेंगे हम
कब हम खुदसे इतना प्यार करेंगे?
'Makar Sankrānti, also referred to as Uttarāyana, Makara, or simply Sankrānti, is a Hindu observance and a harvest festival. Usually falling on the date of 14 January annually, this occasion marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius to Capricorn. (source : Google Search)'
Yesterday night, I had set an alarm for five am, for today. The plan was to get started somewhere! i.e. into the habit of knowing and celebrating Hindu festivals with deeper awareness and involvement for leveraging the blessings or just to feel some belonging factor.
Before heading for bed, I had made a long list of things to do, especially deep cleaning, which usually should have been done before - The New year, as per the Hindu calendar. But, I have an excuse for myself - after all I am a working women :P (BS!🙄)
Per plan, the alarm rang at five am but I got-up and momentarily forgot why I had put that alarm 👀. Possibly, I was enjoying a deep sleep. Slowly, I got into conciseness and debated the pros and cons of getting-up at 5 am. It was already 5:30 am when I got-up and knew I needed some real motivations and played devotional chants to mark the new day...I searched for Sun Mantra, this relaxing song changed the whole vibration of my house and I was attuned to it.
I started cleaning project from kitchen cupboards, emptying all old foods or snacks, dusted & mopped the whole house, soaked dusty doormats and how can I forget to clean all other stuff in and around the kitchen Temple? After showering, I used a copper Tumbler (lotah) to offer water with some sesame seeds to the Sun God (something I learned this morning from one of the You Tube reels).
Around 10:30 am, I finished Pooja and I was starving, decided to start preparing meals & have brunch at ~11. It was veg pulao in the earthen pot 💖, yup I have been experimenting with earthern pot cooking as it gives a unique flavor, retains the rich color of the vegetables and keeps one humble...I mean, one has to be very patient and should use wooden spoons for mixing to avoid damaging the pot. I had prepared extra so that I can share with two of my neighbour's, along with the traditional Ellu-bella (obviously purchased) .
As soon as the rice was done, I took a portion of ellu-bella along to give it to the downstairs family and then to owner's family and seek blessings and exchange greetings. It feels home to seek elderly blessings on such occasions.
Around 12:30 pm, I finally sat to eat and the other neighbor got me some masala curry made of Avarekai (hyacinth beans). I felt, my meal was completed with ellu-bella (sweet), Rice and Curry, by the grace of Annapurna Maa. I was actually very tired but all the love and festive feeling and vedic or traditional chants kept me going.
After brunch, I crashed for ~ 15 mins but the mind was active and was constantly thinking to get done with the pending laundry. Around 1:30 I went for washing and drying laundry....and in my mind, I was like will this mark my year as it is believed that one starts the new year on a good and auspicious note by indulging in spiritual practices and some offerings etc but me??....ha ha ha...The Laundry girl of 2025 :P
Handwashing laundry after meals isn't a joke but madness on my mind and I wanted to just get things ticked off my bucket for today. I guess I need to release this association of accomplishment with such mundane daily chores because they are making me less productive and focus more things that uplifts me eg. Painting, cooking, Dancing or doing nothing or just day dreaming!!
Later around 2 pm, I crashed like a dead log...around 2:30pm I was awaken by this sweet kid who bought me sweet Pongal from his home. I love to tease him and spend some fun time with him....he is more like an elderly (grandfather's) soul in a tiny baby's body and he looked like one today :P. But this made my day!!
Around 3pm, I got ready to visit the Gaushala and Khatu shyaam temple. I reached and was like - the cows must be thinking - oh! one more to feed us now!! But I was kind and only offered the left- overs, scattered raw corn shoots and some Jaggery. I walked in the premises and met and caressed a few cows. Spoke to two little cute siblings who were playing with one cute baby calf and upon asking I was told that Baby's name is Krishna. I guess my being was so deeply yearning to feel this calmness in me which I finally felt after spending that time with the cows. I later visited the temple and sat in meditation for few mins and started back for home in an auto, the cold air was making me sleepy...:)
By 5 pm, I was back home and was invited to Aunty's house for customary - Haldi-Kumkum & Tambulam filled with season's harvest - Banana, sugarcane piece etc.
I later met my friend for a good cup of coffee and early dinner and I guess the rest of my emotions found it's way then, I believe the Uttarayan really made it's mark! for a moment I was joyous, I cried, I laughed, I spoke endlessly and I was sad too, at times I was ruminating and the next moment I was back in the moment.
Around 6:30pm I was back home and finished the pending dishes, boiling water, folding clothes and made myself a good cup of Basilur black tea (My Fav. from SriLanka). By this time, I was debating if I shall do cards or write.....
I got on call with Mom-Dad and we discussed random topics from that of 2025 Mahakumbh to Aghori (and I jokingly mentioned that my grown-up hairs look no less than an Aghori), to Papa's BLR visit, my travels, weather, the horizontally broken TV screen and how it now shows lagged visuals in one which was too funny to watch!! :)
It was already ~9:30pm and I decided to pour my mind here and see if my bandwidth approves, will do card or read.
All-in-all, it was a blessed day with many successes and few failures (emotional breakdown remembering the past and words and isolation etc). But the best part is I am looking forward to next stuff in my life, probably Tagda Raho?!! (Aligned with my 2025 Health goals..)
I know most of the time I experience life outwardly-in and yearn to feel it the other way...lead inwardly-out and be more realistic. Let's see where does this year takes me.
Gratitude. Grace. Love.