Comments on Ammupatti's thoughts: Mithunam and Karkitakam (Aaniyum Aadium)

Hi PeearkayThat is an interesting piece of informa...

2008-08-23T20:14:00.000+05:30

Hi Peearkay

That is an interesting piece of information.I never knew this since I did not go to college in Kerala.

Best wishes

peerkayJust missed this piece due to shifitng from...

2008-08-23T15:18:00.000+05:30

peerkay
Just missed this piece due to shifitng from mumbai,new job,internet connection problems etc etc.
There is one more interesting thing attached to karkidakam.
This month on those days was called panja masam(scarsity month).
Hence it was tradition in colleges not to levy any fees on this month.
Hence we have to pay only 8 installments ie june,july,sept,oct nov,dec,jan ,feb.(I exactly dont remember if it is july or august is exempted.)Most of the parents who might not know the college rules dont know about this.Even though the fees was only Rs 15 it was abig pocket money for a month on those days.Hence my friends used to collect fees for this exempted month also from their families for added pocket money.( i never did this nor my brothers )

Hi RenuIt is very long since I saw a comment from ...

2008-07-18T21:00:00.000+05:30

Hi Renu

It is very long since I saw a comment from you. Thanks.

I see from the TV news that on Karkitakam 1, Kerala did receive heavy rains.

Yes, I do remember wearing pottu with Mukkuti juice.

I also remember we used to take the juice of three types of leaves and wear pottu with it. Do you know more about it?

Best wishes

Thanks Jyosthana

2008-07-18T20:56:00.001+05:30

Thanks Jyosthana

Hi RaviI am glad you like my blog. Thanks also for...

2008-07-18T20:56:00.000+05:30

Hi Ravi

I am glad you like my blog. Thanks also for directing me to Mr.Prabhu's blog. He has a wonderful blog there and I enjoyed reading it.

Best wishes

Thank you Kalva

2008-07-18T20:55:00.000+05:30

Thank you Kalva

Thank you Jennifer

2008-07-18T20:54:00.001+05:30

Thank you Jennifer

Hi LathaIt is always the older generation that cli...

2008-07-18T20:54:00.000+05:30

Hi Latha

It is always the older generation that cling to the tradition. This will continue. Today's generation also would practice their traditions when they get older and the then young generation would say the same thing.

Best wishes

hi maami, that was a beautiful post. but this year...

2008-07-17T20:56:00.000+05:30

hi maami,

that was a beautiful post. but this year, the rains have eluded kerala and the karkidakom seems to be as dry as november ! of couse there were occasional showers, so it is green all around, but no trace of the torrential showers you've recalled.

and, karkidaka samkranthi is hardly observed these days. youngsters may not even know what it's all about. besides applying mailanchi (henna) on hands and feet, girls also used to wear a 'pottu' (bindi) with the juice of a small plant called 'mukkutti' in this month. this same herb was also worn on the hair. when i was in school, girls would appear wearing a whole shrubbery in their hairs this season !

however, there's an increased interest in the 'Ramayana Masam' observances, which I don't remember from my childhood. It is, of couse, part of the newly revived religious industry and a lot of sound pollution due to that !

After reading this, it makes sense why we do or do...

2008-07-17T15:20:00.000+05:30

After reading this, it makes sense why we do or don't do certain things as you've mentioned during the karkitamasam. WE've only blindly followed a lot of customs and traditions without understanding the real meaning behind them. Thankyou for this wonderful post.

Hello aunty, I jumped here thru' Indira's (of Maha...

2008-07-16T22:39:00.000+05:30

Hello aunty, I jumped here thru' Indira's (of Mahanandi) blog a few months ago and wondered how I missed this splendid stuff all this while. I am a big sucker for old facts and traditions and your blog is a great feeder for me. Thanks thanks thanks! Yours is just like an encyclopedia. I am sure (but sincerely hope it doesnt happen) the future generation would cease to experience all these and then your writing would be a treasure trove. If you get a chance please do visit another of my fav blogs - rprabhu.blogspot.com. I am sure you would enjoy those posts as well. It is your blog and that of Prabhu's which I wish I could make them into a book. Thanks again for your lovely blog.
Ravi

Lovely post dear

2008-07-16T20:18:00.000+05:30

Lovely post dear

Very creatively written post. Now I know where the...

2008-07-16T19:11:00.000+05:30

Very creatively written post. Now I know where the traditions of mehendi started. These things are fascinating! Thank you.

another refreshing post on yester-year traditions,...

2008-07-16T15:47:00.000+05:30

another refreshing post on yester-year traditions, maami! this sounds very similar to western world's 'spring cleaning'. Alas not many of us follow such traditions anymore but i see even elderly people merrily managing their lawns and cleaning their homes when the sun is out, here in Germany.