MARGAZHI MYSTIQUE AND ITS WARMTH

 

From Sampath’s Desk:

  





 

MARGAZHI MYSTIQUE AND ITS WARMTH

 

Come MARGAZHI (a Tamil month), the state of Tamil Nadu in general and Chennai, the cultural capital of India in particular, would exhibit a flurry of South Indian cultural moorings becoming home to musical extravaganza. The winter month, in a way, revives and enlivens the proceedings and the goings-on and inculcates in people discipline of a devout life albeit weather conditions throwing up a lot of discomforts with the night darkness elongating and spilling over after the dawn even beyond 6.00 A.M.

 

People in this season would generally have the proclivity to get up late because of winter conditions, but ‘Margazhi’ traditions tame them up, make them wake up early and go about their daily chores much earlier. The dampened spirit is lit up with the light and heat of choral music called ‘Bhajanai’ in Tamil. A form of group singing – followed as a tradition and prescription by Hindu religion in that part of the year – starts in the thick of darkness and continues even beyond sunrise. Rising early in the morning, taking bath and sporting the traditional pious attire, people would start joining in groups to carry on a disciplined, prayerful and spiritual way to singing devotional hymns. These exercises have a spirit-raising effect on people who tend to be otherwise indolent, slothful and sluggish in the winter.

 

Choral singing would be a common scene, both indoor and outdoor in this season. The highlight of musical series would be ‘Thiruppavai’ (திருப்பாவை) and ‘Thiruvambavai’  (திருவம்பாவை), the famous Tamil soul-stirring and mind-pleasing devotional hymns. It would be interesting to see devout people walking in groups in streets, lanes and by-lanes singing in chorus in praise and worship of different Hindu Gods and Saints, finally reaching a temple for further worship through Poojas. In fact, more than a religious belief, it can be construed as warming up exercises in the morning beneficial for both the body and mind of the participants. The groups singing as they moved along would be a common scene. It is in fact a direct physical exercise regimen necessary to impel and induce different organs of the body to be brisk even in the chilling weather. Walking, group singing, playing musical instruments and clapping as you walk along singing would be stress-buster as well. Moreover, oxygen level in the air is expected to be the highest in the atmosphere in the early hours of the day during ‘Marghazi’ (Ozone effect) and it confers beneficial influence and impact in the devotees. Women put ‘Rangoli’ (Kolam) outside their houses after early rise in this month and this helps them breathe oxygen-rich air. Our ancestors have left behind a valuable legacy for us to lead a life with robust health at this point of time of the year by putting a religious stamp on it. The auspicious month helps people in their spiritual growth.

 

During ‘Margazhi’ (December-January in English calendar), musical concerts are organized in temples and in different music sabhas (auditoriums). Even beginners get an opportunity to showcase their music skills in such podiums. While music lovers would have an exhilarating time listening to the renditions of famous expert singers, novices would also get chance to sing and upgrade their skills! Famous singers get an opportunity to further enrich their music skills and also enthrall music lovers (‘rasikas’) who gather in large numbers to listen to them not only from India but also from abroad, transporting them to a pinnacle of mind-pleasing joy.


The season thus provides a hotbed for cultural confluence and synergy of singers and their fans in the winter! 

 

In the Panduranga mutt/temple in Triplicane, there used to be Pujas and bhajans very early in the morning during this month. During our boyhood, my cousin brother and I daily visited that temple, especially for the 'hot Pongal' offered as 'prasad' after worship and prayers.

 


 

(R.SAMPATH)

21/12/2008


(This article with the same title was published in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS on 24.12.2008)

 

 

Comments

  1. Aravindan T23 December 2021 at 11:49

    Beautifully written. Kudos to Blogger.

    ReplyDelete

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