Publishing an incomplete, unpublished post dated 19 April 2013

How to practice detachment
When the mind is bombarded with sensory recollections
During every waking second?

For instance, however much I miss the spiritual experience of Sittirai Cavadee, that’s not the only thing I miss.

Let’s start with sleeping on the floor for ten days. I swear it felt like a camping experience. Bangalore Ramani Anmal’s voice and Amlavadi’s kanda shasti permeating through home. Mom’s freshly cooked roti and idlis. Incense. the ‘milky stench’ of all those carefully kept pink pieces of cloth previously used for cavadee before. Washing the kudams. Kaavi (or alta).

The smells. Oh my God, the smells. flowers. incense. grandma’s prayer books’ bag.

A very simple example?

The weight of my paalkudam – right on the middle of my head, making my two shoulders slightly tensed and prompting me to stand straight. With milk streaming down my fingers. Mom’s hand on my waist for support. Grandma singing Kanda Shasti behind me

the burning hot road. water from hoses momentarily soothing those itchy, burning and mind-numbing feet. but before that –

#sittirai #cavadee #mauritius #kovil montagne