Tuesday, 20 January 2009

THE FIRST BLOOMS



I was just so happy to see these blossoms on our mango tree - I had to share them. And those lovely russet coloured leaves! (Do click on the picture for an enlarged view.) I am told that in Thamizh literature, description of a beautiful skin colour is 'Manthalir meni' - like the tender leaves of the mango tree.

I remembered a Malayalam rhyme our mother sang to us when we were children - in fact, the minute she saw the picture now, she recited it.

വേനല്‍ വന്നു, വെയില്‍ മൂത്ത് ,
മാവ് പൂത്തു , മണം പാറി ,
വണ്ട്‌ വന്നു, തേന്‍ കുടിച്ചു,
കണ്ടു നിന്ന് മടിയന്മാര്‍.

"Venal Vannu, Veyil Moothu, maavu poothu, manam pari, vandu vannu , then kudichu, kandu ninnu madiyanmaar." It is a lovely description of a summer day full of flurried activity.

A loose translation might read something like this:
"The hot days are back, and the sun is stronger. The mango tree has bloomed, and spread its fragrance. The honey bees arrive and sip the honey. The lazy ones just stand and watch."

12 comments:

NAVAL LANGA said...

I have read some of your posts and would like to revisit.

If you like reading short stories from an Indian writer, then a visit to my blogs would be an interesting one for you.

Naval Langa
SHORT STORIES by NAVAL LANGA
PAINTINGS GALLERIES

Another Interesting Blog LIFESTYLE AND RELATIONSHIP

Happy Kitten said...

I clicked and enjoyed every bit of it!

Thank you for posting it...

Do post a snap when you have the "manga' too.

Gowri Mohanakrishnan said...

Kandu ninnu madiyanmaar.
Aah.Sounds like a formula for happiness !

R. Ramesh said...

wow...mango tree..there's a huge building where poet bharati lived in triplicane chennai..me and my brothers used to throw stones from the balcony to get some mango and invariably got scolding from neighbours and parents..nostalgia u may say..good blog yrs..congrats..

R. Ramesh said...

thanks 4 passing by..hope u liked the blog..and haha..had a hearty laugh..your comments on destiny...thanks..

Soul Searcher said...

I am a NRT (non resident tamil) who felt the call of his roots while browsing through your blogs. Thanks for sharing .

Indrani said...

The shot radiates happiness and hope.So you are going to get sweet mangoes soon.

Chandramouli S said...

That was a beautiful poem and yes, the mango blooms are a refreshing sight and a reminder that you're in a tasty treat soon! "What is a garden in an Indian city without an Âmra tree?" says the Purânas

Swarna said...

Include me among the lazy ones, (the armchair kind).
Wish you a happy and loooooong mango season. (Will let you know when I'm likely to be in Chennai! :) )

Maddy said...

a pity that we can only read about it, the smell of the tender mango leaf, the laziness, the sun playing on the leaves..miss all that.

i would like to hang around and be that lazy chap

RAJI MUTHUKRISHNAN said...

Thank you , Naval, and welcome again. I shall certainly visit your blogs.

Happy Kitten,there will soon be a post with mangas, if the neigbouring kids and marauding maids leave any. :)

Gardenia, I can see that you already found out about that in your latest post! http://seventhchords.blogspot.com/2009/01/indolence-is-bliss.html

Ramesh, thank you for visitng . I did like your blog very much - shall revisit.

Indrani - any chance of you being in Chennai when that happens?

Chandramaouli - yes, the Puranas have got it right - as almost always.

Soul Searcher - I am happy you could feel the call here - please visit again.

Swarna and Maddy - you going the Gardenia way? I am the gang leader for the group of msdiyanmar

Kat said...

sigh... perhaps one should add in that poem "read"

The lazy ones just stand, watch and read..!!!