Aavani Avittam - A family affair

For many brahmins across the world, Aavani Avittam is just another day where they give freedom to their old stinking poonal and jail a new one afresh. But for the people in Late Sri Kalyanaraman family, it is an auspicious day coupled with a great family affair.

The day of Aavani Avittam starts slowly with children going for an brief haircut session. Then after taking Snanam, the day witnesses pure Sandhyavandhanam, Samithadhanam(only for bachelors), Kamokarishi Japam, Yagnyopaidharanam(ada vidungappa, yen english ivalothaan) and finally Kandarishi Tharpanam and Madhyanigam. In between there are some wonderful Homams where some of the words recited sound comical. But alas, I never tried to find out the meaning of these slokas. Will I in the future?

After all these activities, there comes the Namaskaram session to elders. Vying for gift amounts from elders, we as children were ready to fall hundred times at their feet.But what we got is really more worth, the real blessings.

Who said Aavani Avittam is a function for male members of the family? If all through these years, this function had been grand success, it is not without the seamless support from the female members of the family. If male members had work on the day of Aavani Avittam, female members had work even a day ahead. They had to clean the whole house, prepare for the next day's grand meal.

Yes. Those days are gone. Will our Thatha ever comeback and supervise the proceedings?
Will there be happy times again?