A Living Calendar
Bhaji Gully like many Indian Markets is a live calendar. Apart from the different vegetable and fruit that signal different seasons, I often find various objects that herald the celebration different Hindu festivals. For instance at around Ganpati time, the market is flooded with red hibiscus and Balsam flowers, Banana leaves and various other objects used in the worship of Ganpati. Similarly, you will find pooja specific objects all through the year. The Feast of the Banyan Tree
 |
| English: A Big Banyan Tree at Bangalore മലയാളം: ബാംഗ്ലൂരിലുള്ള വലിയ ആൽമരം(ദൊണ്ഡ ആൽമര) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
When I went to the market the other day, I saw a basket filled with strange looking things. On close observation, I found that they were packets of tiny bundles of string ,supari and green bangles and some halad kunku, neatly wrapped up and ready to go for women who wanted to observe the fast of “Vata Poornima” which is being celebrated today. This “fast” or ritual observed by several women in my State, ensures the long life of one’s husband. My father who thinks all rituals are illogical, thinks that this festival, as many others which are observed for the longevity of one’s husband, or to get the same husband in the next life or to even get a husband in this life, is a mere Insurance policy. But obviously not many people think like my father because by the end of today, all the Banyan trees in the neighbourhood will have strings tied around them – one of the requirements for this fast.
The Banyan tree which is a long living tree is central to the story of Savitri and Satyavan a story of ultimate wifely devotion. Savitri who was born a princess married a poor woodcutter merely because she was such a virtuous, dazzling intelligent maiden that there was no prince worthy of her hand in marriage. So she chose this poor woodcutter who was a handsome devoted son to his blind impoverished father who actually was a King who had lost his kingdom hence had to live the life of a poor forester. Savitri’s father was not too happy with his daughter’s choice because apart from being poor, Satyavan had the added curse of being doomed to die very soon. But since Savitri had no option but to marry the only man willing to marry her, the king acquiesced and Savitri and Satyavan lived happily ever after. Ever after wasn’t really very long because soon it was time for the Curse of Satyavan to take effect and one day while out in the forest, Satyavan began to feel his life ebb away. Sitting down under a Banyan tree, Savitri cradled her husband’s head in her lap and began praying for a miracle. Alas, instead of a miracle, Lord Yama the God of death stood before her and dragged Satyavan away. Despite her pleadings to spare her husband, Yama marched on ahead and Savitri doggedly followed him. Yama eventually did get impressed by Savitri’s persistence and told her that he would reward her with two boons ( except for the life of her husband!). Savitri asked for two boons – one for the restoration of her father-in-law’s kingdom and the other for a hundred sons. Yama, at once realised the trap he was caught in for how could a virtuous wife have a hundred sons without a husband? Savitri not only got back her husband, she got back her crown and she also got her hundred sons and lived happily ever after.
Since then, Savitri has been extolled as the epitome of Hindu wife-hood and all Hindu girls are told to emulate her example. Now where does the Banyan tree figure in all this? The Banyan tree was witness to Satyavan’s death as well as Savitri’s argument with Lord Yama. And the ball of string? That is supposed to signify the ties that bind a couple in this life and the next for eternity. So on this day, married women keep a fast, pray to the Banyan tree and tie a string around it in the hope that it will protect their husbands from harm and that they can enjoy a long married life of togetherness and bliss.
Like many mere mortals I am fascinated by Kings & Queens, so I watched with rapt attention the Pageant on the Thames last night. While the BBC went on and on about the horrid English weather, the Queen and her entourage seemed to enjoy the ships passing by. Towards the end though I felt the Queen’s enthusiasm flag a bit and I’m sure she was glad to hear “God Save the Queen” after three long hours and more of standing up, waving and smiling at an enthusiastic crowd. While the Pageant did seem a bit rag tag with a motley assortment of boats making their way slowly down the river, rather than an impressive parade of Naval ships sailing majestically past Queen Elizabeth, it was, indicative of our times – INCLUSIVE. Thus we had all kinds of people saluting the Queen in this flotilla – some athletes, some cadets, some gondoliers, some servicemen, and many revellers.
Looking at her stoic calm and acceptance of what life had to hand her, I couldn’t help but think that it is admirable that she still retains her sanity after being subjected to the antics of her family. It couldn’t have been easy for her to watch her children’s marriages crumble one after the other, the ignominy of standing out on the street watching the funeral procession of a daughter-in-law whose lifestyle and beliefs were so vastly different from her own only in deference to the wishes of her people, and finally, after all her dutiful behaviour being told that she was a rotten mother.
Bhaji Gully like many Indian Markets is a live calendar. Apart from the different vegetable and fruit that signal different seasons, I often find various objects that herald the celebration different Hindu festivals. For instance at around Ganpati time, the market is flooded with red hibiscus and Balsam flowers, Banana leaves and various other objects used in the worship of Ganpati. Similarly, you will find pooja specific objects all through the year. 
Twenty- five Seven 
Leave a reply to BestVilma Cancel reply