Monday, January 13, 2025

Bhogi today; Pongal tomorrow

Tomorrow is Pongal, the start of the auspicious Tamil month Thuy, and I always think of it as a handy reset for any lagging New Year resolutions. There's also actual Tamil New Year in April; lucky us. 

I'll have a long teaching day tomorrow, so I prepped some of the festival food today. This way I'll just have to make the sweet pongal for the pooja and the dosas for the celebration dinner. Today is Bhogi--traditionally, we're supposed to have a big bonfire to burn all the stuff we're discarding. As usual, I did the easier, sustainable thing and donated all the stuff we'd culled.

Pic: I really love my photo of cranes on the frozen Portage River about to take flight (from yesterday's hike).

(Also, I'm so chuffed that I seem to be made of some seriously tough stuff--while even Big A is sore and blistered after our longest hike to date, I'm business as usual. I did sleep so soundly yesterday though. If only I could numb my weltschmerz with five hours of physical exertion every day...)

12 comments:

Nicole said...

There are so many fun festivals! The Lutherans have like zero festivals, so I am here for your celebrations! Don't forget Lunar New Year is next month!
Ahhh there's nothing like pure physical exhaustion to give you some good rest!

Lisa's Yarns said...

I, too, love learning about these different festivals. I’m reading the covenant of water right now and have been thinking about you since I know that is your country of origin. It’s quite the doorstop of a book, but I figured it was perfect for this time when I’ll be resting quite a bit and reading when able. I’m experimenting with talk to text which is kind of shockingly accurate so far.

StephLove said...

Happy Pongal! I like the picture of the cranes, too. I don't know if I've ever seen any in person. We have a lot of herons and egrets here, but not cranes.

Nance said...

Trust the Germans to come up with the perfect Mood Word (and the Romantic era to bring it to us). Your strenuous hike and Nature gave you the rejuvenation you needed.

I love how you've adapted the tradition of Bhogi to make it more practical and generous. And those cranes! They look like they're practicing a dance.

Gillian said...

Great

NGS said...

CHUFFED!! You are amazing, both because you handled that hike like a rock star and because you used the word chuffed.

maya said...

Ha! Thanks, Engie!

maya said...

Nicole, this reminds me of an Indian government official telling me what a nightmare it was to schedule calendars because there are just so many religions and so many religious holidays. According to this list, SEVEN days off in January alone. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/list-of-public-holidays-in-india-2024-9081733/

maya said...

Lisa, I loved that book and it made me so hungry (all those descriptions of cooking and food in the early pages). "A" read it too and thought it was "sentimental." (I'm sharing that so I don't ruin it for you with my hype and you have some balance going into the book.)
Your talk-to-text is indeed impressive! I hope you're getting plenty of rest and your healing is speedy! <3

maya said...

Thank you, Steph! Now I'm second-guessing myself... I suppose they are cranes. They could be herons?

maya said...

Nance! I see it... they're practicing a dance! They're in a sprightly prance ;)

maya said...

:)

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