The festival season started in Kerala and with every festival keralites have the "Annadanam " too. On the process of my research and dance break, i try to attend most of the annadanams in the temples with family, friends and the neighbors, this year.Its a pleasure even to serve these sadyas at the temples. I saw many rich people also serving as nercha!!!
Now its at valanambalam the temple near the south railway station. While standing there for the Que in the temple waiting for the sadya in the hot sun, i was watching the different types of people in the que. There were auto drivers, celebrities, family people , office people, children, College students all the groups were there. And the temple was also decorated beautifully. The ritual is that the food is dedicated to god and hence it is prasadam for the people. There is also a large vessel were you can donate Food items and money. My mother gave me lots of coconuts today and i kept them there. I was seeing that generally all looked very happy and at-least eighty percent of the people were dressed for the festival. And atleast compared to nowadays wedding food reception there were more warmth in the people who were distributing the food and arranging the sadya. Had a good sadya and carried some payasam home too.
While driving back home i remembered long back when i was in St. teresas college with my neighbours and friends especially Kavitha Nair -(A very special friend),we used to go to temples and have these sadya. One day it so happened we were standing with a group of beggars in the que for the food. My uncle saw this and went back home and said " The way Priya stands in the que with her friends and beggars it looks like there is no food at home!" Actually there is real fun in standing with unknown people in que talking to strangers and having food in temples.Honestly speaking we owe nothing in this world. And many times to have food from temples and to even donate food as annadanam, its a nice feeling to see the way people really enjoy the food !!! Some times to feel you have nothing is a great feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still stands in que once in a while Kavitha nair and enjoys the annadanam, strangely now a days rarely i find poor people come for food to temples, in cochin!!!!!!!!! Actually every day is a sadya, for every moment is a unique spiritual moment for our entity in this temple called earth. Once in a while a shift of experience only sensitize us to understand the depth of this ritual called -"Annadanam"
Now its at valanambalam the temple near the south railway station. While standing there for the Que in the temple waiting for the sadya in the hot sun, i was watching the different types of people in the que. There were auto drivers, celebrities, family people , office people, children, College students all the groups were there. And the temple was also decorated beautifully. The ritual is that the food is dedicated to god and hence it is prasadam for the people. There is also a large vessel were you can donate Food items and money. My mother gave me lots of coconuts today and i kept them there. I was seeing that generally all looked very happy and at-least eighty percent of the people were dressed for the festival. And atleast compared to nowadays wedding food reception there were more warmth in the people who were distributing the food and arranging the sadya. Had a good sadya and carried some payasam home too.
While driving back home i remembered long back when i was in St. teresas college with my neighbours and friends especially Kavitha Nair -(A very special friend),we used to go to temples and have these sadya. One day it so happened we were standing with a group of beggars in the que for the food. My uncle saw this and went back home and said " The way Priya stands in the que with her friends and beggars it looks like there is no food at home!" Actually there is real fun in standing with unknown people in que talking to strangers and having food in temples.Honestly speaking we owe nothing in this world. And many times to have food from temples and to even donate food as annadanam, its a nice feeling to see the way people really enjoy the food !!! Some times to feel you have nothing is a great feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For our temple festival, whenever possible our family sponsors annadaanam... being with people and having food with them is totally a beautiful experience... many times I felt we are one family.
ReplyDeleteActually every day is a sadya, for every moment is a unique spiritual moment for our entity in this temple called earth. Once in a while a shift of experience only sensitize us to understand the depth of this ritual called -"Annadanam"
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