Feast & festivities

Feast & festivities

The first fortnight of April is earmarked for festivals with Ugadi on 9th, Eid on 10th and Tamil New Year on 14th respectively, and Easter just behind us.

Festivals in India are a glorious mix of fasting and feasting, an embodiment of the fine balance of life where we forego certain things and later indulge in some other, as a reward for the abstinence and rigour of the fasts. It’s a mental and physical cleansing process of the mind and body, with far-reaching salubrious effects all around.

Eid feasts at the end of fasting are famed for their rich and varied fare, enjoyed by the whole family and community, and are increasingly becoming popular with general public too with eateries offering special food items.

Ugadi marks the new year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and is celebrated with much pomp, splendour and devotion, and of course many mouthwatering food delicacies.

Puthandu or Tamil New Year follows soon after, as the start of the new Tamil calendar. House cleaning, floral adornments and temple visits are de rigueur, along with favourite foods items to be relished.

With the mercury soaring and the sun scorching, further vitiated by the water scarcity, festivals provide a welcome relief from weather woes and divert our minds to happier pursuits.

Festivals are all about fun, food, feasting and also fashion as we bring out our silks and finery to flaunt with joy. Now is the time to grab all the festive discounts and sales and offers being promoted by apparel stores and jewellery shops for the best bargains.

Happy Easter! Eid Mubarak! Happy Ugadi! Happy Puthandu!

Pullout

Festivals are family fun times with food, feasting, fashion and finery