Celebrations, come on!

Dhanvatari - God of Ayurveda.
Note the Chakra, Sanghu, Leech and elixir.
Bloodletting was an accepted way of
treatment in ancient time. The pot
holds the potion of health.
Chakra to slice of tumours or maybe
denoting pressure point, Sonic or
ultrasonic waves to treat ailments?

It used to be an almost non-event. It came at a time when major public examinations were scheduled. Forget about gearing up for Deepavali, we were oiling ourselves to run through the grinding mill of tests and the uncertainty of passing exams. 

When we started working, some of us even had the misfortune of not having a day off. Work had to go on. Still, life went on, knowing jolly well that to serve humankind equals to showing salutations to the Almighty. So we missed many Deepavali and never felt short of anything.

But then, now they tell us that the Deepavali celebrations must go on for five days. That reminds me of someone in our childhood who said that if one is healthy and wealthy with a peace of mind, every day will be Deepavali. 

The homage to the Maker starts even before the event itself. To get people to clean their household, people have dedicated the day before the Festival of Lights to the Avatar of Vishnu, Dhavantri. Dhavantari is the God of Ayurveda who held the elixir of immortality during the churning of Ocean of Milk. Prayer to this deity is to invoke good health. Since 2016, India has proclaimed two days before Deepavali as Ayurveda Day.

There are many version to the reason for rejoicing Deepavali in the month of Karthik (North) or Aippasi (South) in the complicated lunisolar Indian calendar. Narakasuran, the destroying demon, was traditionally blamed for mayhem and when he was slain by his mother, Satyabhama. Narakasura begot a boon of longevity and not to be killed by a man. His death was celebrated with much pomp and light.

Now they tell us that the demon is nowhere but within us. Naraka is hell and Asura is the demon. We need to kill our inner demons to relieve ourselves from the life comparable to Hell; a life filled with sinful activities. Deepavali is the day to renew that pledge. Yeah, right but life is a daily struggle, not a one-off thing. They also say we need darkness to appreciate the bright.

Then there is the Lakshmi Pooja - offerings to the Goddess of Prosperity. The lighting of little clay lamps is to usher wellness to the household and to ward off evil eyes. And this is done daily at night for the five days. For the business community, this is deemed as necessary. The annual accounts are renewed, and the place of work is spruced up to meet the challenges of the following year.

Since Lakshmi is involved, the purchase of gold or metalware came to be intertwined. To prove the point, came another oral tradition. To avert a curse of snake bite and to trick Lord Yama who manifested in the form of a serpent, the young bride of a King stacked gold and silver coins at the entrance of the slumber chamber. The snake, tired of manoeuvring over the heap of coins and probably blinded by the glare of brightly lit lights whilst at the same time enchanted by the palatial musical accompaniment, fell asleep and missed the deadline. The King was spared.

One can do what he wants; he can be an Uncle Scrooge, be a sourpuss shunning all festivities or party all the time like it is 1999, the duties to the family and the people surrounding us need to go on. While invoking the elephantine powers of the Universe for removal of obstacles and a smooth path to the other side of life, let us not forget the elephant in the room.

N.B. It is pertinent to note how the prefix 'dhan' can be extrapolated to denote wealth and cereal (food). Since coriander (dhane)sounds similar to dhan, a delicacy is made by mixing coriander and jaggery to give it a divine justification of serving. It is, for this very reason, Panini, the great ancient Sanskriti grammarian, emphasised the importance of language and grammar in acquiring knowledge and talking philosophy.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Confusion over Deepavali date – Oct 22 or Oct 23?

http://www.theantdaily.com/Don-t-miss-these/Confusion-over-Deepavali-date-Oct-22-or-Oct-23/

Confusion over Deepavali date – Oct 22 or Oct 23?
Sonia Ramachandran

PETALING JAYA: The festival of lights that also signifies the triumph of good over evil is an important celebration for Hindus all over the world. However, there seems to be a little confusion lately as to when Deepavali or Diwali actually falls.

In 2013, the confusion was between Nov 2 and Nov 3 and this year, it is between Oct 22 and Oct 23.

If you type in Deepavali in your Google search engine, Oct 23, 2014 will immediately pop up.

In Malaysia, however, Deepavali officially falls on Wednesday, Oct 22, though here too there was confusion.

His Majesty’s Government Gazette No 43367 of Dec 6, 2013 states that Thursday, Oct 23, 2014 which was published in the July 29, 2013 Gazette as the date for the public holiday for Deepavali should be replaced with Wednesday, Oct 22, 2014 for the celebration.

This is apparently according to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Datuk RS Mohan Shan told theantdaily that the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam had given this information to the government two years ago.

“Like how we explained to the people last year, Deepavali falls on Chaturdashi Tithi. The early morning bath taken by Hindus on Deepavali day is considered a bath in the holy water of Ganges and this should fall on Chaturdashi Tithi, not Amavasya Tithi, which is considered the day of the black or dark moon.

“The last two years has seen the Chaturdashi Tithi and Amavasya Tithi falling far apart when in the past, they used to fall on the same day with Chaturdashi Tithi falling in the morning followed by Amavasya Tithi in the afternoon. Only now is it falling on separate days. The assumption that Deepavali should fall on Amavasya Tithi is wrong because it shouldn’t be during the black moon,” said Mohan.

According to www.wordnik.com, the definition of “Tithi” is: “The lunar date based on the Hindu calendar. 

There are 30 tithis in each lunar month. Tithis begin at varying times of a solar day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to 26 hours.”

Mohan said the government should obtain information on when Deepavali falls from correct sources such as the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.

“This is because we really calculate the dates properly before announcing anything. From last year we are the ones who are printing the Panchangam (Hindu calendar and astrological almanac) for the Hindu community in Malaysia.

“If the temple had done their calculations properly, they would not have provided the wrong date in the first place,” said Mohan.The change of dates reportedly caused confusion among state departments too with no one seeming to know why the change was instituted.

Norizan Kulob, the Johor state deputy secretary, was quoted as saying that the decision to change the public holiday for Deepavali was by notification from the Prime Minister’s Office through two letters, though he was unsure of the reason why the change was done.

Malaysia’s closest neighbour down south, Singapore, is also celebrating Deepavali on Oct 22.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower website states: “The Hindu Advisory Board (HAB) has confirmed that Deepavali will fall on 22 October 2014 (Wednesday) instead of 23 October 2014 (Thursday). Hence, 22 October 2014 (Wednesday) will be gazetted as a public holiday.”

According to BBC’s multifaith calendar and the website www.visitlondon.com, Deepavali is on Oct 23.

But one can’t be blamed for the confusion.

After all Indian websites are showing both Oct 22 and Oct 23 for the festival with different states celebrating on either one of the dates.

The government of Tamil Nadu’s website states Deepavali falls on Oct 22.

According to a circular by India’s Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Thursday, Oct 23, 2014 but “In certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advance, i.e., on "Narakachaturdasi Day". In view of this, there is no objection if holiday on account of Deepavali is observed on "Naraka Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) for the Central Government Offices in a State if in that State, that day alone is declared as a compulsory holiday for Diwali for the offices of the State Government.”

If the country where the art of calculating the date itself originates from has its own people celebrating on both dates, then there should be nothing wrong if Deepavali is celebrated on either date.

Swan song of a romantic dream maker.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Till there is life, Hindi;2012)

In keeping with the tradition which spans a time before RRF, Diwali is not over till after an Indian movie is watched, this year it is SRK's turn. The films on their part, in keeping with their own tradition, keep churning out convoluted non brainers devoid of Indian values in the name of entertainment and stress relieving temporary intoxication of music, dance, pretty people and scenery. Here too, location of shooting is 75% in the UK and the saree and bindi/thikka (pottu) are conspicuously absent too. Are the Indian movie watching public lost interest in the things deemed Indian? This film generated great interest, as during the post production time of the movie, the 80 year old thespian of a director, Yash Chopra, succumbed to dengue fever. In fact, to me, the most touching part of the movie was at the end. Live footage of an elderly  fit full of life jovial man seen mixing around with cast and crew of the production. An unshakable mogul of the Hindi silver screen floored by a tiny virus carrying arthropod just like the bug's great great ancestor floored another, a Macedonian, some more than 2000 years previously.
The small town at India Pakistan border comes to a standstill. The bomb disposal unit of the Indian Army is at its wits end trying to disarm a complicated home made bomb. Coolly  rides in Major Samar Anand (SRK) in cool shades and 3 days' unshaven stubble on a Royal Enfield motorcycle to the awe of his subordinates. They awe at his unblemished record of being able to defuse 97 bombs before. As expected our hero does his work in no time and rides into the sunset reciting some poetic lines.
Next scene, a young journalist, Akira (Anushka Sharma), who is quite at ease at being out of relationships rather in tries to gets the attention of hero by faking a drowning. Hero saves her in the nick of time, giving her his camouflage top and cup of coffee for warmth and rides again.
Back in her room, she discovers his diary in the pocket and reads it without raising an eyelid! Samar's life story unfolds...
10 years previously (2002), Samar is a loafer doing odd jobs in London, clearing driveway off snow, helper in fish market, basking and waiting at tables etc. During his shoveling jobs, he meets a drop dead gorgeous Indian lady, Meera (Katrina Kaif), entering a church. He eavesdrop her confession on wishing not to marry an Indian boy. Meera is a daughter of a self made entrepreneur, a single parent (Anupam Kher), after his wife scooted off with a lover after a clandestine affair.
Samar befriends Meera (who was already engaged to a gora, Roger) and shows her that Indian guys are not as square as she thought they were. Heh... I thought a another man's lady is a no-touch zone, but I guess Indian prestige is at stake here so it is okay.
Along the way, she communicates with her estranged mother (Neetu Kapoor) who justifies her absconding from the family and unfinished maternal duties for her undying love of her true love (Rishi Kapoor) whom she truly adore. In a way, she justifies Meera's next move. Meera did not want to discover the same mistake.
Just when Meera decides to end the engagement, inform her father and marry Samar, Samar smashes onto a moving bus.
Upon seeing Samar sprawled in a near death scenario, Meera makes a childish plea with God. She believed that the fate that had befell on Samar was due to her infidelity and pleaded God for his life for which she would give up marrying him! Sure enough, she lived to her side of her promise. A disappointed Samar left all his life savings to his room mate and leaves for India. ...intermission...
Back in the future, Akira (obvious bastardization of world's favourite director, Akira Kurosawa) is surprised that she actually shed a tear reading the diary. She decides that she is in love! With ulterior motive of trying to woo this broody hero, she infiltrates into the Indian Army compound with the pretext of doing a cover story on the life of the personnel of the bomb disposal unit. After a few failed unashamed literally falling in front of Major Samar for his love, Akira still manages to cut an excellent offering for the Discovery Channel. (In spite of the broken camera, the ever resourceful Samar managed to repair it in the Himalayan wilderness). Shh... Don't ask how the loafer in London became such an expert in bombs and a Major in Indian Army in 10years!

Yash Chopra (1932-2012)
Merchant of romance

Samar is required to present himself in London to authenticate the documentary. Here, whilst trying to save a childish jumping for joy Akira, Samar gets hit by a van. This time, his memory lapse into 2002. He pines for Meera! Akira, with the attending neurosurgeon, concoct a elaborate plan to contact Meera. The old room mate is now a world class restaurateur, thanks to Samar's contribution. Together, they make believe they are married. In real life, Meera never got married! Akira leaves the scene as Samar's memory seem stuck in 2002. Until..
A underground station is evacuated after a bomb is discovered. In a torrent, Major Samar instinctively moves into action and saves the day. (Yeah, right!) Everything falls in place and Samar returns to his military life. Akira's Discovery Channel documentary named 'The Man Who Cannot Die' is well received. Whilst disarming his 108th bomb, Meera joins Samar to say 'I do'
The cheesy dialogue on why he does not don protective gear: We die every day with what do and so to us, with the bomb you only die once! (paraphrasing and lost a lot in translation, as well...)

Aapu Dappakootu style

For many years now, Petronas have been producing meaningful short snippets in conjunction with celebrations of the major races here in Malaysia. Yasmin Ahmad, when she was around, used to come up with catchy ads with meaningful messages about racial unity and preservation of traditional practices.
Unfortunately this year's Deepavali offering produced a lot of flak. It starts with a sad youngster probably unable to get a job, as evidenced by the rolled up scroll in hand. Another chap tries to coax him to 'just chill' and shows him some dance steps. He joins suit. It then snowballs to shows a group of youngsters dancing around like in the busy street amidst the traffic jam in a typical Kollywood/Bollywood scene or maybe Psy's Oppa Gangnam Style, trying to cheer people up and spread the mood of celebration. It did not, however, spread the intended joyous mood to everyone but instead rather drew brickbats.
First of all, the beat that they have chosen, Dappan Kootu, originated as cry by the paid people of marginal South Indian groups during a funeral processions in remote villages and the socially (caste) deprived side of town. Over time, this catchy drum inspired dance tune found its way to the silver screen. As per generations before, the viewing public blindly imitates their hero's antics wholesome whether is served. Monkey see, monkey do! With the crime and gangster levels reaching alarming proportions in the Malaysian Indian community, which is incidentally blamed on the Chennai produced movies, things imitating Kollywood is not good in good taste. We should have our own identity. But then, if it is not captivating enough, people would not turn around to give a second glance.
For a religious function which signify the win of good over evil, light over death, something mimicking a death knell may not be most appropriate.
There are many North Indians Hindus and Sikhs who celebrate Deepavali bur they were sadly not included here. Okay, the producers may be just following pop culture. The truth is what people like now. You get what the masses like. This year Dappan Kottu, next maybe Bhangra.
I am sure if this were to happen, again there will be people complaining as the Sikh population is small in this country. You can satisfy everyone or is it that we are becoming overtly sensitive?
Anyway they cannot be showing Bharatnatyam year in and year out. Happy Deepavali!
Do the Dappan
Old Deepavali Ad

Diwali 2.0

So, today is like a Boxing Day of sorts. The morning after, with the head feeling heavy and body feeling just as lethargic. The day after Diwali or Deepavali. For the follower who wished to be enlightened on how we Malaysians celebrate this religious occasion, here it is... Anyway, this what happened yesterday...

It was an important day for two generations - the current teenagers who reinforced the bondage of friendship with their school friends and the older generation who met with their long lost school friends. This is, of course, a day of prayers and mending broken fences in the intra-family relationship. And a day of eating, eating and more eating (Malaysians' favourite pastime and passion)!

After the mandatory morning prayers and siyakai powder and oil bath (just a drop for formality), it was breakfast time at sister-in-law's house. The spread was thosai, roti canai (local oily paratha - legend says that it got its name from Indian restauranteurs from Chennai who used to sell it, hence called roti chanai @Chennai). As you know Tamils were still referring Madras as Chennai when the rest of India and the world were calling it Madras. I heard somewhere that Madras itself was an abbreviation of what the invaders (Britishers) used to refer to the city with those hot-blooded noisy ruffians from the south - Mad Rascals! I wonder if there is any truth in the story? 

Angpow packets

Right, back to the celebrations. All family members were gathered for the feast, including a sister-in-law and family from Saskatchewan, Canada. All the kids were grinning from ear to ear with 'angpow' packets. Now, the concept of giving 'angpow' is a Chinese concept which has infiltrated into all Malaysian celebrations, be it Eidfitri, Chinese New Year or Christmas. Days before the festivities, commercial banks and supermarkets would be distributing free empty 'angpow' packets to their loyal customers for them to give these packets away (filled, of course) to children to heighten the spirit of celebration. These packets usually contain new crispy virgin notes of RM 1, RM5 or RM10. Some may include a coin with it as was good luck to give away things in pairs! And one more thing, angpow packets were colour coded for different occasions - Red for Chinese New Year, Green for Eidfitri, flexible yellow or purple for Diwali etcetera.

Secondary school buds - 28yrs later.

Back...

Then came time for preparation for lunch. Caterers rolled in their typical Indian cuisine, and so did the guests. All in all, about 100 over people were there in the house. Of course, these people did not just walk into our home for meals. Anyway nobody would be turned away if they did. The people who came were my children's schoolmates and teachers of different ethnicity as well as my long lost school friends who I have not met in 28 years since leaving secondary school. Boy, it was always enjoyable talking about the good all times and catching up on old stories... And it went on till about 4.30pm till the last guest left. You see, Malaysians are very hospitable, we do not chase away our guests. Not on Diwali, anyway. Then, a few phone calls to wish relatives far away. After a little cleaning up and freshening up, it was celebrations again - this time in my brother-in-law's house in Kajang. Before leaving the house, our house lights were brightly lit to mark the event.

It has been a tradition in my wife's family to gather as a family on Diwali evening at the eldest brother for a short prayer.

The next generation - after Y?

This short solemn occasion was followed by long merrymaking and partying with friends. Here the crowd was a real international crowd with friends from my niece's international and my sister-in-law, who is a Belgian and her liaison with the Belgian community. There was rich Moghulian food, booze, loud music and fireworks....and we left by 1.30am... People were still there. Hey, we live in an Islamic country, but we always keep our faith and continue our celebrations with no restrictions. 

pretty maids all in a row

One for the album

Oops!

What's Diwali without sparklers?

Memories of RRF: நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி

நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி*(Naan Sirithal Deepavali)

Deepavali in RRF

I do not remember being particularly joyous at the arrival of Deepavali in RRF. Most of the time, it was just a hindrance as it came amidst year end and public examinations.

As usual Amma will complain about the ever increasing cost of living and increased expenses incurred because of this one day celebration. Again, she would remind us not to overspend because even though Deepavali only comes once a year, it comes every year. And that we should not suffer the whole year just to enjoy on one particular day! 

A month before the auspicious day, Amma will start receiving sewing orders and this will go on until the eve of the celebration!

2 to 3 weeks before this day of the win of good over evil, the whole family will throng the stores at Penang Road, Campbell Street and ‘Jual Murah Bazaar’ on bargain hunting. It will end with each child getting about 2 sets of clothes and the whining of ever escalating price of things year in year out.

By a week before Deepavali, Amma without fail will start scolding all of us and will groped in (at knife point) to help out in carrying out simple manoeuvres (e.g. sewing buttons, cutting off the loose threads, sending for edging etc. etc.). In the midst of all these, something will go missing and again everyone will be at the receiving end (including Appa for the financial turmoil). The missing item will invariably be found right under Amma’s nose where it had been all the while! The brunt of the abuses will be hurled at pitiful Sheila who will be accused for all the mistakes, but life went on…

People will continue placing their order, some even pleading on the eve of Deepavali to get their saree blouse stitched. Amma will usually oblige on compassionate grounds. Maybe not so compassionate to Sheila – she will be chided for not helping. If it were today, Sheila could probably call 1-800-‘teledera’ number and the Americans would label our small cottage industry as sweat shop using child labour!

As the day got nearer, Amma would become more desperate. The children, all preparing for the examinations would be nagged for not helping enough, unlike other children – as if we were the only children in the world who needed to study! The sewing sessions would go on and on till the morning of Deepavali. On one occasion, probably due to fatigue, she actually cut out the wrong design for the wrong customer and Amma had to replace the material. Probably that customer must have ‘celebrated’ Deepavali that year with no saree blouse!
In about a week before Deepavali, in the middle of this entire melee, cookies will be prepared. By tradition, the first to be cooked must be oil based; hence the opening ceremony is done by murukku and ghee balls (ney orundei). I would be assigned to give my muscle power to press down the murukku dough with the troublesome Indian-made murukku device. 3 or 4 other cakes will follow – peanut biscuit, sujee and ghee cookies, plain butter cake, athirasam, jelly and glutinous rice with black sugar paste (wajik/pulut kacau).
On two Deepavali eves, I remember the similar incident happened twice. Sheila had been left inside the house to take care while parent went to do Deepavali shopping. Lats as usual was at Ah Leng’s house. I came home (after afternoon school) to find a big commotion outside E15-11! Who’s who of the 15th floor were all there standing outside the unit, banging on the door calling for Sheila who was cozily in slumber-land on the chair right in front of the TV! And that was not too far from the main door, but she continued snoozing. All our ingenious maneuvers finally bore fruit. As this type of incidence (being locked outside) was rampant, everyone had their own simple devices including the charcoal stirrer which was similar to what is used laparoscopic surgery! Finding Sheila snoring in the midst of that entire ruckus, she was severely reprimanded (meaning whacked!). Kaboom! Swish! Kastakaalam கஷ்டகாலம் !

With all that build-up, preparation and countdown, Deepavali was actually an anti-climax – except for the new clothes, the food and the angpows that we received after distributing cookies to our neighbours. Amma will be sleeping after finally finishing her sewing and cooking. Appa would be catching his forty winks on his easy chair and we, the children would be watching all the special programmes on TV. Nobody actually came to visit us even on Deepavali day. Afternoon would come and the family will again manifest in front of the idiot box to watch the Deepavali special Tamil movie on RTM. When this was over, essentially Deepavali was over and reality bit in. It was time to prepare for school the following day. In the Deepavali nights we would play from 1 or 2 packets of Chinese sparklers.
All the money collected in the form of angpow would go straight to the Post Office Savings account (No. 3472) in the next few days. The grand finale of Deepavali curtain would fall with the family outing to the movies in either Royal or Paramount theatres. We would invariably end up watching a Sivaji movie.
Amma may be painted like a female version of Uncle Scrooge in this article but she had her priorities. She wanted to extricate the Sham clan from the rubbles of fall and reinstate their place in society. As she would always say, “If you are healthy and wealthy, every day can be Deepavali

*நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி (Naan Sirithaal Deepavali) is title of a song from the 80’s super duper Tamil movie titled ‘Nayagan’ about a ‘Robin Hood’ type of a Tamil mafia lord in Bombay. The scene in the song depicts the sweet sad mood of Deepavali in the slum area of Bombay. It was skillfully composed by music maestro Illayaraja setting the retro 1950s mood by using primarily using musical instrumentals used in songs of that era and background singers of that long forgotten era! The movie itself was the beginning of anti hero roles and escalation of nonsensical violence in Kollywood to the present movies of Anniyan and Ghajini. With that movie too, the focus of Tamil movies changed from the predominantly family oriented sob stories of the 60s and the arty movies of the late 70s (village backdrop, e.g. 16Vayathinile; minimal makeup. e.g. Pasi; adult topics, e.g. Aval Oru Thodarkathai and Nool Veli) to what it is today.

The film was nominated by the Government of India as its entrée for the 1988 Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category. It did not make it, however, to the final list. So far, only 3 Indian movies had made it to the shortlisted list – Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay (1988) and Lagaan (2001). Sadly none has won. In 2005, Time Magazine included ‘Nayagan’ in its ‘All time 100 Best Film’ list.