Cultural Difference

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RamanathanSiva
Posts: 127
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 23:11

Cultural Difference

#1 Post by RamanathanSiva » 02 May 2023, 15:26

V4


Cultural Difference

The aura of many tiered ghee wick lamps
light offered to gods and goddesses
the dwindling of the tiers to the last single wick
the dark stone goddess smiling, her diamond
nose rings sparkling brighter than her ear studs,
this is the only Arathi I was aware of.

In my husband’s hometown there is a different
kind of Aalathi, a dilute red liquid in a hollow plate,
betel leaves, camphor; they said ,’go bring Aalathi.’
My sister-in-law gave me some tips, mix a little
turmeric with calcium/ lime and water and it will turn red.

As for what one had to recite,’ your father’s eye, your
mother’s eye, the eyes of relatives and neighbours
snakes ’eye, lizards’ eye, scorpions’ eye
let all evil eyes go, go ,go, vamoose. Do this thrice
clockwise, thrice anti-clockwise, as you chant this, ‘she said.

I merely conjugated my French verbs in the pluperfect.












Arathi is performed to the Gods
a plate with ghee wicks, incense
and camphor; it is there in our Vedas.

When I came to Madras I saw that
Aarathi could be done to a motorcycle
if it is new to ensure safety and auspicious tidings.

Here there is a different kind of Aalathi -
there is a dilute red liquid 0n a plate,
with betel leaves and a lit lamp, or camphor.
I have never been able to hear
the mumbled words.

I came. to my husband’ s hometown
as a young daughter- in- law
they always asked me to do the odd small jobs.

In my college days I wore contact lenses and high heels.
Here I was asked to make Aalathi and take it
so I floundered. With a little prodding

I managed to mix turmeric, calcium and water
to make the dilute red liquid. The Aalathi plate had to be rota
ted thrice clock- wise, thrice anti- clock wise.

An incantation to ward off the evil eye
the eye of avaricious, greedy, jealous kith and kin
and neighbours shoo, shoo, shoo ,go off, vamoose.

I conjugated French verbs silently in the Passé Antérieur.

RamanathanSiva
Posts: 127
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 23:11

Re: 9Performing Aarathi, Taking Aalathi

#2 Post by RamanathanSiva » 02 May 2023, 20:08

RamanathanSiva wrote:
02 May 2023, 15:26
Arathi is performed to the Gods
a plate with ghee wicks, incense
and camphor; it is there in our Vedas.

When I came to Tamilnadu I saw that
Aarathi could be done to a motorcycle
if it is new to ensure safety and auspicious tidings.

Here there is a different kind of Aalathi -
there is a dilute red liquid in a plate,
with betel leaves and a lit lamp.

I have never been able to hear the mumbled words.

I came. to my husband’ s hometown
as a young daughter- in- law
they always asked me to do the odd small jobs.

In my college days I wore contact lenses and high heels.
Here I was asked to make Aalathi and do it
so I floundered. With a little prodding

I managed to mix turmeric, calcium and water
to make the dilute red liquid. The Aalathi plate had to be rota
ted thrice clock- wise, thrice anti- clock wise.

An incantation to ward off the evil eye
the eye of avaricious ,greedy, jealous kith and kin
and neighbours shoo, shoo, shoo ,go off, vamoose.

I merely recited my own poem

RamanathanSiva
Posts: 127
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 23:11

Re: Performing Aarathi, Taking Aalathi

#3 Post by RamanathanSiva » 02 May 2023, 21:57

This happened on my ipad. Not intentional. That is how there are two posts.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Performing Aarathi, Taking Aalathi

#4 Post by BobBradshaw » 03 May 2023, 02:46

I don’t know what happened to my comments.

RamanathanSiva
Posts: 127
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 23:11

Re: Performing Aarathi, Taking Aalathi

#5 Post by RamanathanSiva » 03 May 2023, 04:55

I think because I had made two posts, the moderator must have deleted the one with your comments. Would it be possible to just state what must be done to bring it to shape. I meant to submit this today.

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