Today is Assumption Day, the day Mother Mary (no, not the one that comes to you in times of trouble in 'Let it be', but the real one) is assumed to have ascended to heaven. How do I know this? Well, a mother who was in active labour was hoping against hope to postpone her delivery to today for obvious reasons!
Talking about heaven, the hell gates are open now, according to the Chinese folklore and the ghosts are out to play. Hence, throughout the 'Hungry Ghost Month' (Phor Thor), many distractions are given to these ghosts so that they would be sitting down watching the Chinese opera, the scantily clad singing girls and feeding on the food stuff left at the road side during prayers. The distractions are meant to divert their attention from their daytime duty of haunting the living!
Talking about that month of the year, the middle of July to mid August is the inauspicious month for the Hindus. Most important events in life are postponed if possible. Agreements, moving into a new premises, births (by prohibiting intimacies 9 months previously), buying of properties, marriage and engagement ceremonies are postponed till after the Aadi month is over. The temples used to be void of activities and the time was used to spruce the temples and conduct repairs and what not. That was in those days, when I was growing up. Now, many activities (even religious ones) are happening. Aadi Puram which seem to be a low key fare then is a celebration of sorts lasting many days with chariot procession to follow. The snake goddess also has join in the foray. Guess, the temple had to fatten its coffers.
Talking about hell, heaven and spiritualism, an icon of songs he used to lip-sync to and I had to bear the brunt of listening to it day and night when I was desperately trying to cramp my facts in RRF kicked the bucket recently. The Bollywood film fraternity moan and wail that his death is an irreplaceable loss even though he has out of acting for decades! Nah, I do not think they miss him. They are just telling that as they know that the media people are out with their memo pads! Shammi Kapoor, the chubby crazy sometimes monkey-like dance-moving star of the 6os passed on at 79 due to renal failure. All the songs from Andaz, Junglee, Love in Tokyo which were the background score of me studying for SPM still reverberates in my ear drums... Ironically, India celebrates its Independence on 15th August in the month of Aadi. I wonder why? Did not any learned holy men try to postpone the handing of self rule from the British? Guess they could not wait! Perhaps then, they could be less mayhem than there is now, and I wonder...
Talking about heaven, the hell gates are open now, according to the Chinese folklore and the ghosts are out to play. Hence, throughout the 'Hungry Ghost Month' (Phor Thor), many distractions are given to these ghosts so that they would be sitting down watching the Chinese opera, the scantily clad singing girls and feeding on the food stuff left at the road side during prayers. The distractions are meant to divert their attention from their daytime duty of haunting the living!
Talking about that month of the year, the middle of July to mid August is the inauspicious month for the Hindus. Most important events in life are postponed if possible. Agreements, moving into a new premises, births (by prohibiting intimacies 9 months previously), buying of properties, marriage and engagement ceremonies are postponed till after the Aadi month is over. The temples used to be void of activities and the time was used to spruce the temples and conduct repairs and what not. That was in those days, when I was growing up. Now, many activities (even religious ones) are happening. Aadi Puram which seem to be a low key fare then is a celebration of sorts lasting many days with chariot procession to follow. The snake goddess also has join in the foray. Guess, the temple had to fatten its coffers.
Talking about hell, heaven and spiritualism, an icon of songs he used to lip-sync to and I had to bear the brunt of listening to it day and night when I was desperately trying to cramp my facts in RRF kicked the bucket recently. The Bollywood film fraternity moan and wail that his death is an irreplaceable loss even though he has out of acting for decades! Nah, I do not think they miss him. They are just telling that as they know that the media people are out with their memo pads! Shammi Kapoor, the chubby crazy sometimes monkey-like dance-moving star of the 6os passed on at 79 due to renal failure. All the songs from Andaz, Junglee, Love in Tokyo which were the background score of me studying for SPM still reverberates in my ear drums... Ironically, India celebrates its Independence on 15th August in the month of Aadi. I wonder why? Did not any learned holy men try to postpone the handing of self rule from the British? Guess they could not wait! Perhaps then, they could be less mayhem than there is now, and I wonder...
I think Aadi month is bad for southern Indians only. So India has to go on with Independence as the deal was with Gandhi and he did not knew about this.
ReplyDeleteAadi month is the best time to shopping (Indian Shops) cos they will be doing cheap sales as people don't get married this month