MAHALAYA AMAVASE

TODAY it’s a very special day. Off-course, every day is a special day but today is extra special. There are two reasons for this. One being the Mahalaya Amavase and the other being our Nationalist Bhagath Singh's 112th birth anniversary. Even before Bhagath Singh was born Mahalaya Amavase was celebrated and even after our deaths, it will be celebrated in our names. So let me share what I want regarding the Mahalaya Amavase first and then about the Indian Lion Bhagath (Simha) Singh. 

Today, in our culture/custom we offer our gratitude to our ancestors. We celebrate the visit of our ancestor souls to us. We prepare dishes, maybe veg or non-veg which were their (ancestors) favourite. We even offer liquor along with cigars or pan masala or even weed (no matter how much it costs) to our ancestors if they were in love with them. To be specific almost all the eatables, as well as drinks which the ancestors loved, are offered to them on this specific day of the year. It is believed that our ancestors visit their successors in the property they have left behind. Actually, ancestors visit us daily but we meet then yearly. The reason is that for any Athma one day is equal to one year of humans. So they come to make sure that kinds of stuff are going on well and health and wealth are maintained in the right manner. They receive the offering with great pleasure and bless the family with good deeds and return to their space again. At this point in time, I thought of offering my love and gratitude to my Grandma (my dad's mom) by sharing the life lessons taught by her. 

She taught us that money can be earned not the age (time), she made us realize every person has his/her own position (mind-set and behaviour status) and he/she should be positioned at the same, she made sure that we love all, help few and hate none, she instructed never cheat others as well as our-self, she showed us to live and to let live. She said to say no to unnecessary arguments and work for the betterment of all.

She was full of wisdom and her life was full of joy. She lived her life fullest. Even though she was not educated in the school she was the one who managed the financial matters of the family once after my Grandpa passed away. She was our Iron lady. She taught us many things simply by following the same in her own life. Even though she was a daughter of a rich merchant she knew the art of living a middle-class life as a wife of a middle-class man. She was an expert in shifting oneself from a lower profile to a higher profile of life. Her way of living was so simple but yet filled with luxuries by the grace of the Almighty Lord. She rarely missed her Saturday Temple visits. She loved all her children and grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren. She loved travelling and encouraged us to do the same. She had a great love for collecting gold ornaments and never heisted to give away the same when the situation demanded. She was an innocent daughter, loving wife, caring mother and grandma full of life stories. What else can a family need? 

Yours Lovingly,

Jogi B Mahesh