Amma's Tales

Category: Tradition and tidbits

  • Ganesha’s da man!!!

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    by

    The Wag
    in ,

    Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of Hindu mythology, has been quite beloved of all, children and adults. He is credited with a lot of intelligence and wisdom ..and come on…you just have to love a cute elephant!!! That too,one with a penchant for eating binges!!! Tales of his intellectual prowess abound in Indian mythology and amma…

  • Ganesha and the moon

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    by

    The Wag
    in ,

    It’s a tradition possibly now forgotten that one does not look at the moon on Ganesh Chathurthi. Amma says:Once Ganesha was returning home on Chathurthi night. After having feasted on all the offerings made by his devotees, Ganesha was quite full. Burping his way back home, he passed by the neighbourhood pond. Something inside the…

  • Onion and garlic, anyone?

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    by

    The Wag
    in ,

    My mother hails from a rather conservative Tamil Brahmin family. They were Iyers from Palakkad settled in Chennai. From all accounts, my great-grandmother must have been a terror to live with. Lots of rules, usually for women, and enough rituals to make people want to adopt Buddhism instead!!! Cooking was strictly regulated in the house,…

  • A match made in heaven

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    by

    The Wag
    in

    This is a little tale I made up for my daughter D when I was trying to get her to eat (no small feat, let me tell you). As it happened she was eating thairu saadam (curd rice) and keerai kootu (spinach/dal mixture) a combination I was telling her was a match made in heaven…