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Thursday, December 19, 2024

Atangudi Tiles 🤞

As we are approaching the end of year 2024, the rush and pressure to be somewhere else is way heavy, especially if one hasn't planned anything or is consumed in other work related priorities that the holiday season never felt like it exists.

And I am one such person here 🤐!

Firstly, there was a plan that Dad would be a visiting but he changed his mind at last min. I thought I will book myself on a train or flight and be with family for a whole 7 days...but nope, too expensive and not worth that stress.

At last, I was reminded of one desire or a dream that I had for so long but I kept pushing it over and again but I am praying that atleast I take time and plan for that one dream/ wishlist - Learning to make Atangudi Tiles at the local place and visit Chettinad mansions.

I have reached-out to a friend of mine who speaks Tamil and checking if she can come along. I am yet to hear from her but even if not, what's my plan B? How do I manage that travel... probably the only way is to reach out to masses and make it happen 😉

I am not sure if I am too blinded by the touched up reels from Atangudi or if it's really worth being there during holiday season. 

Let's see... else all I would be left with is - The 12th Book and myself reading it in the balcony.

Either way, it's just another day...and I am at ease and peace even if I cannot travel or do things that world indulges in, I will choose my peace and my cocoon :)

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Simplicity of a song and smoky ambience

After returning from office, I was craving to have  street food - a plate of tangi spicy paanipuri and Masala poori. I asked my neighbour and we both went walking. The street food was devoured in no time.

More than the appetite, it was my mind that I wanted to satisfy with the comfort of familiar hygienic street food 🥑.

It was a long walk and on our way back we visited a nearby super Market and brought some Veggies.

After getting home, I traded from my office wear with a comfortable pyjamas and started cleaning the kitchen mess i.e. pending dishes, remanants from the winter carrots (red ones that we get in northern part of India) 🥕. I couldn't resist indulging in some freshly peeled carrots seasoned with lemon and black pepper and hogged like 'R' for rabbit 🐰🐇😆.

After sometime, I made snacks with sprouted dew beans (wow, I love this name...dew) and shared with neighbours, in return I got a cup of chai :)

Around late evening, 7.30pm, I was on my own and was resisting hard to not fell asleep. I had burning sensation in eyes and exhaustion post long travel to work and back or probably due to sleeplessness.

At first, I tried fixing a malfunctioning tubelight by changing the starter and trying a new tube but nothing worked.  I thought to lit oil lamp but the space was a mess and was screaming for a clean-up. I then decided to take up cleaning the Pooja corner or say decorative spritual corner that I primarily use to lit oil lamp. 

It's been week or may be months that I din't clean the space and it was full of ashes from burnt incense sticks. The ceramic dhoop holder and other things kept there was wrapped with a thin layer of oil from when the lamp are lit and dust was sitting clinging to the thin oil film. 

With the cleaning project I came across a new song and the simplicity of that song and Punjabi lyrics itched on my heart and I played it in loop for God knows how many times. That song made me feel afloat and I continued to immersed in the feel of that song but actually slowly, one by one washing the mess and the tar stuck on brass lamp, oil bottle, steel plate which holds the burning dhoop etc. in the process, juggling with slippery fingers and lemon and salt to clear them, I cut my fingers and blood oozed out from the cut. But the song was so soothing and nothing mattered.

I continued.... At last, I came to a point where I had to rearrange that corner, place the idols or photo frames etc. and as a surprise, I was enjoying that process and was immersed in creating a small ecosystem by repurposing the lid of ceramic pot as a stage for miniature idol of lord Ganesha, some Rakhi/ temple threads as a clothing or decorative fabric. I was smiling at myself as I dint know what made me so calm within.

It almost felt like I am crafting a miniature story in the process of rearranging.

Finally, I did lit the lamp and a dhoop. The aroma shifted completely and the circular smoke from dhoop made it mystical yet the song added a pleasant feel to the whole room. 

🌸✍️🥕🐇