Though it is getting hotter by the day, with all the trees in full bloom,it is by far the best season in Chennai.The roads are carpeted with tiny yelow flowers fallen from trees lining the streets whilst pink and majenta coloured flowers cover the crest of most shrubs and trees.
Neem trees of all sizes and age are dusted over by pearly white flowers and the reddish flowers that covered the mango trees a month back have all turned into pale green mangos.The two most important ingredients of the sweet dish the' manga pacchidi 'that is prepared on Tamil new years day that is celebertaed this 14 th .
The sweet syrupy base of this dish is made from jaggerry made from sugar cane harvested in the cool climes of month of margazhi [or december -january].
Just what is the significance of this dish?Was it an succesful attempt by our ancients to remind themselves and succeeding genertaions that whilst embarking on a new yearit has to be borne i mind that it would be sweet like the jaggery syrupand pleasnt like the month in which it was haervested but also quite sour like the unripe mangoes that go into its making and with the unavoidable but medicine like bitterness of those tiny five petaled ivory white flowers of the neem tree ,coating it only when hot summer starts , which is well known for its medicinal and fumigation properties,which is used for garnishing?.
The wisdom of our ancients borne out of observation of natutre and human cycle is clearly indicated by according a primary status to this sweet sour and bitter dish when we celeberate the birth of a new year.
Hope that this new year is sweet . I have had my fill of sour and bitterness in this life to last me the whole of what remains of this life time as well as beyond.
Neem trees of all sizes and age are dusted over by pearly white flowers and the reddish flowers that covered the mango trees a month back have all turned into pale green mangos.The two most important ingredients of the sweet dish the' manga pacchidi 'that is prepared on Tamil new years day that is celebertaed this 14 th .
The sweet syrupy base of this dish is made from jaggerry made from sugar cane harvested in the cool climes of month of margazhi [or december -january].
Just what is the significance of this dish?Was it an succesful attempt by our ancients to remind themselves and succeeding genertaions that whilst embarking on a new yearit has to be borne i mind that it would be sweet like the jaggery syrupand pleasnt like the month in which it was haervested but also quite sour like the unripe mangoes that go into its making and with the unavoidable but medicine like bitterness of those tiny five petaled ivory white flowers of the neem tree ,coating it only when hot summer starts , which is well known for its medicinal and fumigation properties,which is used for garnishing?.
The wisdom of our ancients borne out of observation of natutre and human cycle is clearly indicated by according a primary status to this sweet sour and bitter dish when we celeberate the birth of a new year.
Hope that this new year is sweet . I have had my fill of sour and bitterness in this life to last me the whole of what remains of this life time as well as beyond.
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