Today happens to be a special day indeed. It is the Shrawan Pournima. One of the best celebrations it is of the brother-sister relationship. As it is, the sibling relationship is a bond that remains intact, despite distances, even when in the grown-up stage not much time gets spent together, and even despite a little misunderstanding here or there. So it has to be, given the visceral quality of the relationship.
Indeed times have changed now. Sisters no longer need protection. They are pretty capable of taking care of themselves, right? So now a sister expects only sheer affection. It is such a great feel to see your happily settled in life kid bro, now a "cool" guy every which way. Equally sweet and touching is the deep feeling of the senior citizens in their seventies/eighties celebrating this bond.
In certain parts of India almost the entire family tie rakhee's to each other, i believe. Would you agree with me though that the festival is now more Bollywood-ised? Well, it is Bollywood that made "rakhee" pan-Indian, right? Actually, in most all parts of India, this Pournima is celebrated as Narali Pournima. It is on this day that the sea, a treasure trove of life literally if you remember your basics of anthropology, is offered a prayer so that the sea routes could again resume post monsoon.
Hence the special sweet dish today is the unique rice preparation made with coconut and jaggery, a real treat indeed. Most all people have forgotten this unique importance of this Pournima. Here at home, we celebrate it both ways as Rakhee Pournima and Narali Pournima. Papa used to without fail offer a coconut in prayer to the sea, given Raju's sea-faring profession as a merchant navy officer.
Well, be it the Rakhee Pournima or the Narali Pournima, the joy this Pournima offers is indeed like the beauty of the full moon, now glistening like a pearl in the wet sky, now glimmering from behind the clouds. It covers the whole existence with a quiet beauty, a lovely peace that makes life truly unique. Long live this Pournima!
Pratima@ "All is well with the world" is the feeling the Shravan Pournima offers year after year. Let us celebrate this Pournima, the Shravan Pournima, as a tribute to the love and affection of the brother/sister for each other and equally a tribute to the respect we human beings owe to nature.
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