Here are my this year’s Sankranti Muggulu. I have tried new ratham muggulu this year. One I am very happy with! The other, I am still deciding how I am feeling about it. On the bright side, it does look like a miniature ratham. So I am taking that as a win.
Here is my final post on Dhanurmasam Special series. I will continue to post more muggulu closer to Diwali 2023.
Here is the second part of muggulu in my Dhanurmasam special series.
I am starting this series to share some of the easier muggulu for Dhanurmasam. I will continue to share till the end of Sankranti.
Many south Indians celebrate Kartika Pournami by performing Satyanarayana Swamy Vratam. After a long gap of 10 years, we resumed this tradition back in 2020. So, this post is a “very late post”!
For us this tradition started with our paternal grandparents before my father was born. They even named my father after this god – “Satyanand” – part of Satyanarayana Swamy’s Ashtothara Shathanamavali.
For me – most exciting part of this day is making marigold garlands and decorating puja peetam with turmeric, vermilion and rice flour (this one activity alone takes more than one hour!)
And the peacefulness one experiences after the vratam and listening the katha (rather 5 kathalu that goes with the vratam) is absolute!
Typically, south Indians make rangolis on New Year’s and for Sankranti festival. Making rangolis for Diwali is one of the biggest traditions for north Indians.
Best time to share some of my rangolis I made over the years.
Location: Keyes High School by Bangiya Sanskriti Sangha Secunderabad
I have always wanted to visit school during Dussehra holidays to see the final results of the Durga pooja idol preparations that took place during our quarterly exams. I did not get a chance to visit while I was a student. We had our own rituals for the holidays which kept us busy and away from Secunderabad. This is finally checked off from my bucket list at last! I along with friend and her kid visited this pandal early evening on Saturday, 1st October.
When I was a kid, I thought it was just the pandal that is put up where Durga puja happens. But it is so much more, nothing less than a fair (small scale fair). Food stalls covering the entire middle school grounds, play area for kids in the college grounds and the high school grounds is where the pandal is set up along with clothing stalls exhibiting Bengal cotton sarees and dresses, accessories, etc.,
Although it rained in the afternoon, the crowds started trickling in after 7PM. Like us, there were many alumni in the crowds, walking around the empty hallways of the building where the general public was not allowed. The guard only allowed us into the main school area after we told him we were ex-students. Those of us who visited had a good time talking about the old times and just soaking in the feeling of being back at school.
Back to the Durga Pooja! Even though it was not a pandal with huge fan fare, it attracted a lot of people from all communities! The pandal is open for general public till the end of the day today, October 5, 2022 – although the activities published at the pandal has events planned till 10th October 2022, Sunday. Those of you in or nearby Secunderabad area can visit the place with family and kids for a fun filled evening!
This year, we celebrated Varalakshmi Vratam on 5th August 2022. I was happy with how peacefully we completed the pooja. Our day started early (well, early for me!). I made 9 types of prasadalu. It took me 2 and half hours to just makes these prasadalu.
And the pooja time alone was 2 hours. But we did not rush it. By the time we finished pooja it was 2:30 in the afternoon and then I broke my fast.
As usual, I did a lot of research on how to decorate kalasam, pooja vidhi and prasadhalu. I will try to add the links to these inspirations soon.
This is the first time I have offered the Saare to Pochamma thalli. The Saare is usually offered during Bonalu festival. And I have done a lot of research just to ensure I have all the things that have to go in this offering.
Here are the list I have offered:
Do let me know if I missed anything. So I can include them when I offer next year.
I almost did not post this article for the risk for posting back to back rangolis. But it is Sankranti weekend and this the most fitting post!
After New Year’s rangoli experience of sitting in cold winter mornings making rangolis for hours together. I made up my mind not to make big rangolis for Sankranti this year. I was proud of myself by choosing small muggulu – two for main gate and one for side gate.
Guess what? It took same amount of time to make three small rangolis as one big and one small rangolis. At least I was glad I did not take up half the road to make rangolis this time.
That feeling however, was short lived. It rained cats and dogs by evening washing out my two hours worth efforts!
Anyhow for people who are interested in re-creating these rangolis, all three rangolis are 12x2x2 – straight dots. Do try and share your pictures in comments section.
Hope everyone had good time this Sankranti with your families. Stay home. Stay Safe!