What a week it has been!! I was just recuperating from a bout of the flu, and looking forward to catching up with all my writing, and all that I had missed.... The festival season was just about to begin, and I was looking forward to writing about all the festivals we will be celebrating this month..... And then, while I was busy preparing for the most elaborate celebration of the month, my left hand middle finger suddenly showed a slight swelling. Assuming it to be nothing important, I went on with the work, and managed to perform the Varalakshmi puja without too many problems. But by Friday night, the swelling was too big and painful to ignore, and a visit to the doc told me that the finger was infected, and filled with pus! So, here I am, today, with the finger bandaged, and managing to type with one hand after a long time.... Obviously I cant write much, so I shall just leave you with photos of Varalakshmi puja at home.... Incidentally, this is the first time I performed the puja all by myself, since my mother in law is out of town... my finger couldnt have chosen a better time to get infected, could it?
The Varalakshmi puja is, as the name suggests, a prayer to the Goddess Lakshmi, the deity who looks after our well being.. This puja is performed in the southern states of India, and is considered among the most important festivals of the year.. The house is cleaned and decorated, and the goddess is invoked in a kalash (metal pot) with a coconut placed on it. Come, let me show you how I performed the puja...
Welcome to our house.. a kolam at the entrance...
