A special moment
Maveli is visiting. Please hide the plastic flowers.
A special edition for Anu: the whole family is home, the pookalam is on the floor and the sadya starts at one sharp.
The pookalam, ring by ring
Ammachi has been at it since six. Watch it bloom, then give it a spin.
Tap it to spin
Seven rings. Maveli will definitely notice. 🌼
Hour by hour
The plan has not changed since 1998.
6 am
Flower picking
Thumba, chethi and the marigolds from the neighbour's wall. With permission. Mostly.
8 am
The pookalam
Seven rings on the front step. Someone always sneezes on ring six.
10 am
New kasavu
Mundu, saree and one photo before anybody spills anything.
1 pm
The sadya
Twenty-six things on one leaf. Parippu first, payasam last, rice throughout.
3 pm
The mandatory nap
Non-negotiable. Fan on full. Nobody calls anybody.
6 pm
Thiruvathira and tea
The aunties dance, the uncles critique, everyone eats banana chips.
Onam, on film
This morning's roll, developed. Touch a frame to bring the colour back.
From the editor's desk
Why we make the floor bloom
Every year King Mahabali comes home to check on his people. So we pick flowers before sunrise, cook enough for half the street and wear our best kasavu, just to show him we're all doing fine. This year the house is full again, Anu. There's a leaf with your name on it.
The banana-leaf test
Four questions. Ammachi wrote them.
0/4