Time to Get Back to Work…

Yes, Aadi 18 is over and it is time to get back to work.
Wondering what I mean??
According to our calendar, the year is split into two halves, Uttarayanam and Dakshinayanam. Uttara-ayanam [Northern Path] is when the relative position of the sun moves towards the north[mid jan to mid jul]. Dakshina refers to south. Dakshinayana is from mid jul to mid jan.

As discussed here, the agriculture and productive season is the Dakshinayanam. This is because the rivers in TN have their catchment in Western ghats and have water from the monsoon, starting from Aadi. The farmers get busy in sowing and till January are busy with the crops.

The aadi ammavasai, the new moon day of aadi, is considered auspicious for prayers to forefathers. Though this day is common to everybody, the kshatriyas, and the defence community pay homage and respect to all those who lost their lives earlier and start a fresh round of weapon making, culminating with aayudha pooja.

This is followed by Aavani avittam, where the vaishya and brahmana people get themselves rejuvenated for a new work cycle. The brahmanas have this ritual called Vedarambam. [veda aarambam], when they change the sacred thread[Rethreading and Multithreading ;)]. Learning of new Vedic lessons start from aavani avittam and continues to start of Uttarayanam in January. From then on it is just the revision, till the next dakshinayanam.

So, this half of the year is when highly productive specialized functions are accomplished. The conditions are also conducive for this work. Unlike uttarayanam, the climate in TN during this time, is moderate. Rain and shine compete with each other. The extreme temperatures are gone.

The festivals of this period are fully domestic in nature. Starting from aadi, the jenmashtami, chaturthi, navaratri, deepavali, karthikai, all are domestic festivals, unlike uttarayanam, where public festivals like, brahmotsavams, teppams, poochoridhals fall. [of course exceptions are there..]

The uttarayanam on the other hand is when all public events like building of temples, fairs, public festivities, travelling to nearby towns and cities are undertaken. The temperatures and climate reach extremities. And it is when people are out vacationing, since concentrating on the job is difficult.

Is this the similar reason, why Christmas is celebrated in the western world, when climate reaches extremities and productivity falls to the lowest!!