What if?

What if there is no power? 

I have to definitely say that Electricity is a greatest invention and it has become one of the basic needs of the people. Hospitals or emergency or providing cool/heat based on weather all are contributed to power. However, can we conserve that energy by allocating a few hours in a week without power. Just be with nature and enjoying the stars. Recently I got to see the stars and moon in the sky up so close and I didnt realize the lights have made them all not visible to us. Can we do a mottai maadi kadhai neram and nila choru and just conserve this energy?

What if there is no internet?

The world has become a small world because of this. How else can I talk or see my mom living so far? How can I be in touch with my friends from so far? Communication and getting to know what is happening in the other end of the world are all possible only through this. However have we taken this for granted and not spending some time just holding hands and walking in the nature? We have taken the people next to us for granted. Use it wisely and use it as needed.

What if there is no phone?

The whole world's world is in this phone. Graham Bell's invention has been put to its maximum use. It is not just used for its very purpose it was invented. It has become much more and if Bell is here he would have been proud to see that his invention has exceeded his expectation. We have made it from being wired to a place to a smart buddy of us traveling along with us in our pocket. 

My favorite Maavudu

 Welcoming Maavadu home.

Every summer in Chennai kickstarts with the maavudu's appearance. The process starts with finding the best place to buy it. The streetside vendors had the green gold all heaped into a hill. My amma does little bargain and buys it. The vendor measures the vadu using a padi (A cylinder that is closed on one side and open on the other). We bring the special guest home curbing the craving to bite into it. After reaching home, we give the guest its shower and wipe it clean and keep it aside. Now to the decoration or the masala that is smeared and coated on the vadu. The mangalakaramaana manjal, kaaramaana milagai, kutty kaaram, uppu suvaikku namba kaluppu and special effect kadugu along with the main ingredient castor oil on the vadu are ground into a paste. Now the vadu gets into the nalangu mode and my amma smeares it evenly on the vadu and place it in a ceramic jaadi. The Earthen jaadi adds effect to this. Ok Maavadu oorugai potaachu. Now we have to go into the waiting period. 

Every morning after that goes by checking the status of the vadu and giving it a kulukku to evenly spread the spice and water.. Now the aroma of the vadu starts spreading in the air and the appetite will be initiated by this aroma. The pazhedhu hater in me will be compromised by the curd and my favorite Maavudu with its jalam. Maavadujalam has its own special place in my heart. Gulab Jamun or Rasagula takes the backseat when it comes to Maavadu floating in its spicy mix.

The Maavadu satisfies all my sensory organs at one go. The aroma satisfies the nose, the feel of it satisfies my touch sense, the look of it satisfies the eyes, the crunch sound when we bite into it satisfies my ears. Now finally the tangy, spicy and salty bite satisfies my poruthaar poomiaazhvar tongue. Now should we call this an accompaniment to curd rice or pazhedhu or sambhar saadham or rasam or even paruppu saadham or now all of those are accompaniments for my maavadu. I would say Maavudu is the special guest and rest all are just accompaniments. 

The sisters of Maavadu - aavakaai, maambazham follows the summer but first is always the special and that is my Maavadu.

Now sitting in this abroad country, i only hear from my mom that maavadu has come, oorugaai potrukken and not enjoying sitting next to her and make her give that a special attention.

Like Diwali, Maavadu welcoming day is also a festive day.