புரட்டாசி சனிக்கிழமை ( Saturdays of Purattasi Month)

            

On this day the 16^th of September 2020, my mother Loganayaki Kannan (universally known as Loga Kannan) would have turned 93 if God had not taken her away from us in 2006.

Tomorrow is the first day of Puratasi month (September-October) according to the Tamil calendar and this was one of Loga Kanna’s favourite months as was also the month of Marghazi(December-January).  Purattasi was special because it was the month that had the maximum of festivals and she could indulge her passion for cooking and home decorations. Marghazhi was liked because it was dedicated to Lord Krishna, her ishta devata and both the months gave her chances to display her aesthetic creativity through the elaborate kolams that are drawn in front of the houses.

During Puratasi month, the autumnal equinox occurs and in the Northern hemisphere, where India is situated, the sun crosses the celestial equator to move southwards. According to Tamil cultural belief, Puratasi is the month in which Lord Vishnu appeared on the earth as Lord Venkateswara. Therefore it is considered to be the ideal time to thank Lord Vishnu for preserving the Universe at the end of Kali Yuga. It is believed that Shani Bhagwan’s malefic powers wane during this period so Puratasi Saturdays are considered to be especially beneficial for fasting and worshipping Lord Vishnu.

Every Saturday during this month, from the time I could remember, my mother would get up early in the morning, have a head bath, wear a silk sari and bustle about the house decorating the floors with kolams and festooning the doorways with mango leaf garlands. She would prepare an array of Variety rice – Puliyodurai, Ellu saadam, lime rice, daddojanam and chakra pongal – channa sundal, medu vada, sago-semia payasam and kesari in addition to vegetable curries, chutneys and raitas. Three banana leaves would be spread before the altar and all the prepared food would be served ceremonially as food for the Gods, our ancestors and the members of the household. 

         

She would apply naamam on our foreheads and as the puja was being performed, we had to chant Govinda! Govinda! as loudly as we could. The puja room as also our whole house would be filled with the fragrant smoke from the dhoop, agarbathis and burning camphor. She never missed a Saturday even when she crossed her sixties.

During this month was also Dassera festival /Navaratri. As a child in her maternal house, she had arranged the traditional golu and participated in the Navaratri celebrations with full zeal. However, in her marital family, golu was not a part of the Dusshera celebrations so she tried to go back to her mother’s house during this month, whenever she could but these visits tapered as the children grew older and finances became tighter. She took great pleasure in coming up with innovative ideas to help her friends arrange the Golu.

Puratasi  will always revive her memories for me. Though I had neither her enthusiasm nor zeal to celebrate it as she did, every year I look out for that month and try to mark it in my own way though not as flamboyantly as her.