Ugadi special :)

I hadn't called home for a few days and it completely skipped my web-crawling radar!

Ugadi is one my favorite festivals. Apart from the all-delicious and mouth-watering pachchadi, Ugadi conjures up so many images and smells.. Our Mango tree must have started flowering abundantly and all over, spreading it's characteristic fragrance.. We carefully pluck the bright green leaves, making sure that we don't jerk the delicate flowers and tie them on the entrance door.. Jack fruit and chickoo trees come a close second in this tropical fruit race. And we officially start our summer-wear on this day too.. Loose cotton-jubbas for kids, well-starched cotton saris for women :)

Those of us who can read Telugu, read our rasi-phalas from the new panchangam, pre-cogging our yearly fortunes. They have a small summary table telling you on a relative scale how much you will earn (aadayam) and how much you will spend (vyayam), how many people you'll befriend and how many you won't :)

It's also a time for Doordarshan to show-case our literary traditions in impromptu poetry..

The hot summers of India couldn't ask for a more warm welcome from us :)

Happy Ugadi