TRIAL BY FIRE

Loading? What loading? Hubby dear’s reaction when I told him we had an invite to attend a Lohri party. The invite was from a close friend of mine, who called to say that it was on Sunday, the day before “you people”(she meant South Indians) celebrate Sankranthi. I thought that was rich, coming from someone who had married a Tam Brahm. I teased her about the “you people bit” and gently reminded her that I was a Mallu, and we celebrate Vishu in April as our New Year’s Day. (Mallus always have to do things differently!!).

All togged out in “ethnic” wear (keeping in mind my pal’s strict edict on the dress code) we set off to Patel’s Inn at R.T. Nagar and were faced with the perennial problem that never seems to stop haunting us Bangaloreans-lack of parking space. Once that was sorted out, we faced another problem. Where was this shindig happening? We could see hordes of silk clad people descending on the entrance to the place and all these people could certainly not be going to the “small” Lohri party. And then we heard it-the unmistakable bhangra beat and that was what guided us to the right party!!

There was an open fire, like in a camp; and everyone threw handfuls of puffed corn and groundnuts into the fire. I was told that since this was also when harvests came in, the ritual symbolized the giving back of a portion of the harvest to God. The fire, considered holy and cleansing, was traditionally made of broken sticks of furniture. I shuddered with horror when I imagined having to shop for new furniture every year. I have just finished the ordeal as a precursor to moving into our new home, and I definitely DO NOT want to think about furniture for a really long time-preferably never.

Some energetic dancing and some good food later, we made our way home. A new way to bring in the New Year-and tomorrow and day after, the New Year comes to our home again-in the form of yellu-bella and til gul!!