The web of connections

 

That is Govindu, the travelling singer! Perhaps he is descended from those wandering bards of bygone days! Or maybe he is from the family of minstrels coming to the city in search of a better livelihood! He is from Andhra, staying in 'Urapakkam' a southern suburb, away from the hustle-bustle of metropolitan Chennai. Does he belong to the Chenchu tribe; or is he from Jangama tribe or Dasari tribe?

With the harmonium hanging from his shoulder, he moves along these residential streets of this part of the city once in a month, perhaps. (It may be more than a month also many times.)

A voice that needs no mic, resonating with devotion(Bhakthi) and gently sails with the wind to reach my ears in the morning.

He came this morning , after about a month and half; a lazy and quiet morning just before the usual vendors would fill the air with their sing song calls. Here I was contemplating on the design of the 'kolam' the kolam powder leaving my fingers in flashes of white lines and curves; the rich timbre of that voice calling 'Vittala' from the other end of the street, moving the length of the street to gently nudge me!

I paused my kolam; hurried down the steps to see him in front of our apartment. With just a slight flicker of his eye balls and a subtle lift to face me, he was able to communicate the message that he knew me. Who? The person as the one connected to his last trip here or the person from that particular balcony or another soul who loved the sounds, the music? Later he told me that he remembered my daughter talking with him.

He played the harmonium for a few minutes and turned towards the opposite house. That is when I asked a meaningless question, " Why don't you sing?" Once again with the turn of his head and a quick glance, he conveyed something! Was he trying to point out the meaninglessness of my question? He was singing and moving from the other corner of the street and the street was reverberating with his music for the last 15 minutes. He would continue with his songs anyway. So why did I need to ask him? He has been handed down this music from some distant past and the only way he knows is to share it with other beings and communicate with them through that music. You see the way he shows up for this activity. With the dhoti tied in a particular way, his forehead adorned with Vibhuti (the sacred ash) head held high and with complete dedication he sings.

The music, unrestrained by any grammar, the Bhakthi flowing out in bhajans and Abhang is not his alone. He carries within his voice and music, generations of such music; the sounds fill the air and the ears receive them. All the beings, are in sync with the flow.

I got back to my routines? Did I really? I was immersed in the experience of the music, the tradition of wandering minstrels and Govindu's voice for more than half of the day. I was once again in the Global summit session with my mentor, Bhavana. Brimming with passion, her voice was asking me to observe the continuously repeating patterns ; to stay in the territory, explore and ponder.

I am contemplating on 'SANKOFA' (Go way back and get) .

From where have we modelled the notes(swaras ) that combine to create beautiful sound? All the sounds in nature - the gentle rustle of leaves, the slow waking up of different birds with their calls, the still hot day, the hungry calls of the fledglings and many more - create a symphony. The silence in the open space, the underlying shruti binding all sounds - isn't that the beginning of all music!

The emotions of traditions

Celebrating Savitri pooja/’Karadaiyar Nonbu’ my way.

This ‘vrath’ or nonbu is observed on the day of transition of Sun from Aquarius into Pisces. That usually occurs when the Tamizh month of Masi (Magh – January/February) ends and the next month- Panguni (Phalguna) begins.

Married women observe this ‘Vrath by fasting on the last day of month of Masi for the well-being and long life of their husbands. Sometimes, unmarried women also observe this vrath to get an ideal life partner. Just before the birth of the next month (Panguni), they worship mother goddess and offer the traditional sweet called ‘Karadai’ blending rice floor and jaggery and steaming the round shaped ‘adais. We add handful of cooked (lobhia/chavli – Karamani) black eyed beans and grated coconut also to this. Then with a seasoning of mustard, green chili, ginger and curry leaves make a salty dish as well. One should not forget to keep a cup of butter along with the other offerings.

(How anyone would have thought of these subtle combinations??” I wonder!)   “Don’t men find the need to pray for the well-being and long life of their wives?”

I love the story of Savitri, the determined woman, who challenged Yama, the god of death to bring back her husband alive. Her resourcefulness and keen observation of the lord of death and his language makes Yama yield to her request and arguments. She pleases the lord with her determination and gets three boons – she enables her father-in-law to regain his eyesight and also his kingdom; her parents are blessed with a male child and Yama agrees to her request of begetting 100 children!! She then points out that, being a loving wife, she cannot have her children without her husband alive. Yama, pleased with her presence of mind bestows the three boons.

Ever since I have first heard this story, it is her self-confidence and resourcefulness that have made a deep impact on me. Her father appreciates her intelligence and respects her choice of husband. (even though he comes to know of his limited time on this earth.)

I loved to be around the place when Patti (grand mom) prepared the special delicacies and observed these traditions as there was one aesthetic flow to her movements that blended with all things around her and a rhythm to her processes that soothed me. Then there were those delicacies! Hm…. I can smell the aroma, feel the texture and the taste bursting on my tongue even now!

This set the trend and pattern in my life to follow all the traditions and cook all the delicacies that she created as she continues to be present in all these actions, thoughts, the aroma of cardamom, jaggery boiling or the offerings and prayers. I feel enveloped in her loving hug!

So, I don’t care for the social taboos and stigmas like ‘meant-for-married-women only’; ‘not- for-widows’. I go ahead and observe all those traditions and make the special dishes and offer to God. This time, I paused on the day of ‘Savitri pooja’ – reflected about all these and the great woman.  I started a new invocation and offered a new prayer – calling on Savitri to pass down her resourcefulness, determination and courage to us, all women in need of that. I reached out to all other wise women and nurturing women to guide us through this life. That, of course included a very special prayer to my Patti.