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I took active part in beating the drum at both the morning and evening worship. I always felt envious of the priest who got the best of all the eatables in the house! My father’s house was always full of learned pandits and astrologers who were kept busy performing Japs (recitations) and Yajnas in the Puranic style. My mother observed all the fasts enjoined by the Puranas and like my grandmother was a firm believer in the Puranic mode of worship. We always enjoyed mother’s fasts, as they gave us the nice Phoolahar she prepared on these occasions. Though it was intended as Phoolahar, (a meal as light as a flower) it was always rich and appetising. Except when it was a twelve hour fast, one could take milk, fruits, sweets, potatoes etc., only cereals could not be eaten. Mother was as much an expert in preparing Phoolahar as she was in cooking meat and other dishes. Her Dahi Baras were famous. Though this article of food is prepared everywhere in India, I have never tasted anything as good as hers. My birthdays were observed in true Puranic style. On these occasions I was weighed against grain, salt, iron. ghee and what not. The stuff was then given away in charity under the supervision of the officiating priest. Even when I ceased to believe in propitiating heavenly bodies, I continued to observe the rites, just to please my mother. To make provision for dead relatives, Shradhas were performed regularly in our house. They were of two kinds: Khiah was performed on the actual death anniversary of the deceased member of the family every year. During the Shradha fortnight the spirit of the dead was invoked on the tithi (the day by lunar reckoning) on which he had met his death. On both occasions, excellent dishes were prepared; sweet Palao, Khir (rice pudding), Dahi Bara, rice, puries and Madhras and pulses. It was a grand feed. The Brahmans were fed and the deceased ancestor was invoked by calling the crows outside the house.

to be continued...

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