Endings, Beginnings And The Cycle Of Life!

As I stand before the holy pyre lit for Bhogi celebrations in my lane, I realise that another spiritual month has come to an end - the month of Margasheersha or Margazhi as we South-Indians refer to it as. 

But then, when a month ends, it doesn't end alone. After all the month is made of days, and the days are made of tiny rituals that more or less make us who we are, and stay as memories in our mind. 

With the ending of Margazhi, there ends the daily ritual of listening to Thiruppavai, a beautiful composition of thirty pasurams (or paragraphs, if you will). These are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and have been composed by one of His greatest albeit youngest devotee, Devi Andal. Every morning, since thirty days, this composition has been playing in my home. This ritual comes to an end today!

Thiruppavai is also song in the temple in my colony. The special prasad for Margazhi month is pongal, steaming, peppery, ghee-laden aromatic pongal that just tastes divine. Today, this ritual of preparing pongal as prasad comes to an end.

So is ending the ritual of lighting lamps outside my house early morning for the month of Margazhi. 

But life has taught me that endings need not be sad, they can be beautiful and positive and hopeful. 

As Sankranti approaches and signals a change in constellations, there springs the hope of warmer and brighter days, of more light and less darkness, of more warmth and less cold. Of course, with the dramatic changes in climate, we can never be certain about which season will follow the existing one. But there is hope, there is always hope, and the admirable trait of life to adapt to situations and circumstances (and changing climates as well)!

Here's hoping that the new season brings warm and glad tidings for everyone!