Oh my God, I’ve turned into my mother.
Yesterday, when I called home, I was reminded for the nth time that today was Saraswathi Pooja. My mom’s afraid that after moving to New York (read away from my Aunt and one particular friend in Dallas, both of whom my mom believes kept me “a good Tamil girl”, or well, close enough at any rate), I don’t have family or friends who will tell me about all things Tamil. She’s right. I’d have thought about it in December, and wondered whatever happened to Saraswathi Pooja, if I ever remembered at all.
At any rate, I felt guilty enough to do something about it. I eschewed whipping myself a nice omelet for breakfast, and ate some completely vegetarian oatmeal. Instead of lazing about with the Sunday papers, I moved my ass and made some kheer (OK, MTR kheer, but I did all of the stirring, I’ll have you know!), and soaked some sun-dried peas to make Sundal in the evening. For a few minutes, I merged Saraswathi Pooja with Vijaya Dasami in my head – I had planned to have a second pooja in the evening and do a bit of studying (a book on women’s health that I’d picked up for a buck at a second hand sale was the only “studious” book I could lay my hands on).
I didn’t want to have two poojas – I had plans to go to the gym and do my laundry in the evening (“planned to go to the gym”, mind you). Whenever I feel this lazy, I usually come up with some brilliant scheme to remain that way. I had a sneaking suspicion that the two festivals didn’t necessarily have to fall on the same day. I vaguely recalled something about the books remaining in the Pooja room overnight. I was too, what’s the word am looking for here – scared, yes, scared to call my mom or the ladies in Dallas to confirm my suspicions. I googled instead and figured out the truth – that Vijaya Dasami falls on the day after Saraswathi Pooja - which am sure any “good Tamil girl” would know from birth.
Relieved that religion wasn’t going to compromise my wild lifestyle (hello – remember I had a fascinating soiree to attend at the Chinese Laundromat down the road) I went about the house marking anything that resembled an appliance or tool with some turmeric paste, topped off with a little bit of kum kum. This was easy, as this had been one of few tasks I’d deigned to help my mom with. The contents of my studio include a television, a laptop, a DVD player, a router, a set top box, a refrigerator, a microwave, a hair-dryer, a fan, one screw driver, an alarm clock and a hammer, which fall under the appliances / tools category. All of them were duly marked yellow and red.
Midway through the pottu-vaithal, I realized that I wasn’t myself bedecked thus, and after hearing my mother’s voice speak the word “amangalam”, I shrugged and made myself a bindi, too. As I was lining things up for the pooja, I rapidly rejected this plate (my mind recalled I’d eaten scrambled eggs off that plate. That this is the same mind that still can’t tell me where the rest of the garlic I bought last week is gives me great comfort), or that scrub (used to clean said “soiled” plate). Eventually the pooja got done.
In the evening, I had to make the Sundal, because I’d already soaked the peas. But I couldn’t do the pooja cuz I popped one pattani into my mouth to check if they were done… Before you go there, I’ll tell you that my mother’s voice drowns out the story about the chap who tasted the meat before offering it to Shiva. So, no I didn’t have the heart to do it.
I joke all the time about turning into my mother, but today I think I actually did. Or maybe not. I ate the sundal straight out of my 12-inch wok 
You should try that sometime, Mom. It’s one less dish to wash.
Comments (17 comments)
I love the “It’s one less dish to wash” line. Very true, I need to try that sometime.
But seriously, for a second I was lost when there were so many “I am female” references. I have not been a regular visitor for the past couple of months and was astounded that Karthik was a girl. A look at the sidebar helped me figure things out. Welcome girl and look forward to more posts by you.
The Desi Nole / October 2nd, 2006, 12:08 pm / #
12 inch wok? You have a healthy appetite.
d.n.a. / October 2nd, 2006, 12:43 pm / #
Desi Nole: Thank you
d.n.a - ha ha.
DoZ / October 3rd, 2006, 3:22 pm / #
funny writeup
B / October 4th, 2006, 12:07 am / #
Hmmm, yes I tried to play “nalla payyan” this year by doing everything my dad does back home in Chennai for Avaniavattam. But that was my quota for this year. So this past weekend was spent lazing on the couch with the TV on! I did manage a Bridgewater visit on Sunday, but that was motivated by the thought of rava kesari than anything else. It was incidental that there is a temple on the same premises
As for the one dish less to wash logic, I am thanking god that I have a dishwasher. Wow, I need to make sure that my current apartment search includes dishwasher as a must have!
anantha / October 4th, 2006, 11:36 am / #
B: Thank you!
Anantha: My temple quota for the year was filled when I went to the Queens temple and sat through the Ganapathy Homam this Pillayar Chathurthi. I don’t think am going back there for a long time… It’s too complicated to get to the temple - too many trains and a bus!
I just hope that come Diwali, I don’t try to do something stupid like attempt Murukku or Adhirasam… Yikes!
I *envy* you your dishwasher. Good luck with the apt search! And remember, this is your golden opportunity to move to the city
DoZ / October 4th, 2006, 12:37 pm / #
More power to you. You go girl!
Keep writing, DoZ
Furrylittledancingimp / October 4th, 2006, 4:22 pm / #
Bah, I wish I could. But I work 40 miles out west and it will kill me to travel that far everyday. And with the kind of work I do, I would not be able afford the rents at all! So the city will have to live without me for 5 days a week.
anantha / October 4th, 2006, 8:20 pm / #
Did you by any chance have an oil bath before all the pooja stuff? if not…or is it only for Diwali? I lost track after all these years.
SFGary / October 4th, 2006, 11:43 pm / #
hey doz..it actually is easy if u travel by car (there is a false thing being circulated that travelling in car to the Queens temple is difficult.). I go there atleast twice a month in car (from NJ) and I find it really comfortable…
B / October 5th, 2006, 12:24 am / #
Furrylittledancingimp: Thank you!
Anantha: too bad, but hey, as long as you live close enough to come over to the city whenever you feel like it, that’s good enough.
SFGary: Well, if you must know, I considered an oil bath but settled for a shampoo since it was already past 10 by the time I tore myself away from the newspaper… And I don’t think the oil bath is festival-specific, at least it isn’t in my family. The policy’s that all oil baths are good for you and all festivals demand many of these “good for you”s…
B: See, I don’t have a car. So this temple thing is only going to be for extremely special occasions…But nice to know that it’s not impossible for Jersey-residents to come over. I assume many more of them have cars than the Manhattan ones do.
DoZ / October 6th, 2006, 3:35 pm / #
yeah.. its a must in for jersey ppl… while i wud say you dont need one as long as you live in nyc…you can literally go anywhere u wan to using the subway.. thats what i like abt the CITY…
B / October 8th, 2006, 10:06 pm / #
btw.. whats happened to KArthik??? long time no see!!!
B / October 8th, 2006, 10:07 pm / #
He is being a lazy bastard.
Karthik / October 10th, 2006, 11:07 pm / #
Lol!! Nicely put!
perspective inc / October 12th, 2006, 4:27 am / #
is thatthe real Karthik or someone acting as him!!!!!
B / October 13th, 2006, 12:17 am / #
It is the real me, I promise. And I am working on a Thailand travelogue - slowly, steadily and lazily. Be back in a couple of days
Karthik / October 13th, 2006, 10:57 am / #
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