THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY, LET US FREE OURSELVES

   

 15 August. Independence Day.

Today, the whole nation celebrates freedom.

We remember the struggle for independence, the sacrifices made by countless people, and the meaning of being a free nation. We proudly watch the Tricolour being unfurled, listen to patriotic songs and remind ourselves of the value of freedom.

But this Independence Day, I want to pause and ask myself a different question:

Am I really free?

Not as a citizen of a free country, but as an individual.

There are so many things that have quietly become my masters. They don't imprison me behind walls or chains. They occupy my thoughts, my time, my attention and sometimes even my peace of mind.

Perhaps true freedom today is also about freeing ourselves from the small bondages we have created for ourselves.

Here is my personal list.

1. Freedom from overthinking and negative thoughts

I want freedom from the endless conversations that happen inside my own head.

Why did someone say this?
What did they mean?
What if this happens?
What if that doesn't happen?

Overthinking rarely changes the past or controls the future. It only steals the present.

I want to free myself from unnecessary negative thoughts and make more room for calmness, gratitude and constructive thinking.

2. Freedom from checking other people's WhatsApp statuses

How many times do we open WhatsApp without actually having a message to read?

We check the statuses.

Someone has travelled. Someone has cooked something wonderful. Someone has bought something new. Someone has shared a quote. Someone has posted a photograph.

And then we move on to the next one.

Why do I need to know all this?

I want to be free from this unnecessary curiosity.

3. Freedom from opening every YouTube link shared by others

A link arrives.

"Please watch this."

"Very interesting."

"You must see this!"

And there I go.

One video becomes another, and suddenly precious minutes—or even an hour—have disappeared.

Not every link needs my attention.

I want to learn to say, "Not now."

That is also freedom.

4. Freedom from checking Instagram repeatedly

Instagram can be entertaining, informative and inspiring. But there is a difference between using a platform and being pulled into it repeatedly.

I don't want to open Instagram simply because I have a spare minute.

I want those spare minutes back.

Perhaps they can become reading minutes, thinking minutes, walking minutes—or simply quiet minutes.

5. Freedom from the temptation of challenges and giveaways

This one is particularly close to me.

As someone who loves books, the attraction is obvious.

A challenge.
A giveaway.
A chance to win a book.
A beautiful new title offered as a gift.

The excitement of receiving a book is wonderful. But sometimes the desire to receive makes us participate in things we don't actually need to participate in.

Do I really want to do this—or do I simply want the book?

That is a question worth asking.

I want to enjoy books without becoming a slave to the expectation of receiving them.

6. Freedom from gadgets after sunset

This is perhaps the biggest challenge on my list.

I want to bring back a little more of the old rhythm of the day.

My personal targets:

• Laptop — stop by 4:30 p.m.
• Phone — stop by 5 p.m.
• Television — stop by 6 p.m.

It may not always be possible. But I want to make it a conscious effort.

The evening should not disappear behind screens.

There must be time for conversation, reading, looking out of the window, preparing dinner, listening to music, or simply doing nothing.

A gadget is a useful servant. It becomes a problem when it becomes the master.

7. Freedom from routines that leave no time for nature

Routines are necessary. They give our days structure.

But sometimes we become so committed to completing our routines that we forget to live outside them.

I want to free some time for a nature walk.

To walk without an agenda.

To notice the sky.

To look at trees.

To feel the breeze.

To watch birds.

To simply walk and be present.

Perhaps a few minutes spent with nature can give us something that several hours online cannot.

8. Freedom from the place that disturbs my peace

This is the most difficult one.

Sometimes it is not a gadget, an app or a habit that disturbs us.

Sometimes it is a place.

A place that makes us uncomfortable. A place that repeatedly disturbs our peace. A place from which we carry unpleasant thoughts even after we leave.

But perhaps freedom does not always mean physically escaping from that place.

Sometimes freedom means telling ourselves:

"This place does not have the power to disturb my inner peace."

I may not be able to change the place.

I may not be able to change the people around me.

But I can work towards changing my response.

That, perhaps, is the hardest freedom of all.

 

Our own little prisons

We often think of freedom as something outside us.

But there are invisible chains too.

The phone we check repeatedly.
The notifications we cannot ignore.
The thoughts we cannot stop.
The comparisons we make.
The expectations we carry.
The fear of missing out.
The desire for appreciation.
The need to know what everyone else is doing.

Slowly, without realising it, we become slaves to things that were created to make our lives easier or more enjoyable.

Technology was meant to save time.

Social media was meant to connect us.

Challenges were meant to be fun.

Giveaways were meant to be generous.

But when these begin controlling our time and attention, we need to pause.

Perhaps Independence Day is a good reminder to ask:

What am I still a slave to?

And then make our own little declaration of independence.

Not a dramatic one.

Not one that requires a revolution.

Just small decisions.

I will not check that status.

I don't have to open that link.

I can keep the phone aside.

I can switch off the television.

I can close the laptop.

I can ignore a giveaway.

I can stop overthinking.

I can go for a walk.

I can protect my peace.

Because freedom is not merely the absence of external control. It is also the ability to choose what deserves our time, attention and energy.

This Independence Day, while our nation celebrates the freedom we inherited through sacrifice, let us also work towards the freedom we have to create for ourselves.

Maybe the most meaningful flag we can unfurl today is not only outside our homes.

Maybe we can unfurl a little flag of freedom within ourselves.

Happy Independence Day!

This year, my resolution is simple: I don't want to be free only as a citizen. I want to be free as a person, too.

And what about you?

This Independence Day, what would you like to free yourself from?

Is it overthinking, excessive phone use, social media, unnecessary expectations, comparison, a habit, or something else that quietly controls your time and peace?

What is your own personal declaration of independence?   Do share it in the comments

THIRUVADI POORAM: CELEBRATING ANDAL WITH PARROTS, FLOWERS, BANGLES AND PALKOVA

  

   

 

A green parrot. Long flower garlands. Colourful glass bangles. And a box of soft, creamy palkova.

These four things immediately bring Srivilliputhur to my mind. And today, on Thiruvadi Pooram, the birth star of Andal, they come together beautifully to tell the story of a town, a goddess and a living tradition.

Thiruvadi Pooram, also called Aadi Pooram, is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aadi, when the star Pooram appears. It marks the birth of Andal, the only woman among the twelve Alvars of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Andal was born in Srivilliputhur, the temple town in Tamil Nadu that remains inseparably connected with her.

Andal – the divine girl of Srivilliputhur

Andal, lovingly known as Kodhai or Goda Devi, is celebrated for her deep devotion to Lord Vishnu and for her beautiful Tamil devotional compositions, particularly the Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi.

But among the many stories associated with Andal, one has a particularly charming connection with flowers.

Andal's foster father, Periyalvar, prepared flower garlands for the Lord. Andal, overcome with devotion, would first wear the garland herself before it was offered to the deity.

She would look at herself wearing the garland and then return it.

When Periyalvar discovered what she had been doing, he was upset. How could a garland already worn by a person be offered to the Lord?

But the Lord accepted Andal's devotion.

Thus she came to be lovingly remembered as “Choodi Kodutha Sudarkodi” — the radiant girl who wore the garland and then offered it to the Lord.

And this story has given the Andal Malai, the garland associated with Andal, a special place in devotional tradition.

The long garlands of Srivilliputhur

Think of Srivilliputhur and its beautiful, lengthy flower garlands naturally come to mind.

Flowers are carefully selected and strung together into elaborate garlands. The tradition has travelled far beyond the temple town, with Srivilliputhur garlands being associated with important Vaishnavite temples and occasions.

For weddings too, these garlands are much sought after.

There is something special about wearing a garland from Andal's town on one's wedding day.

The bride and groom wear flowers that come from a place associated with the divine bride herself.

A garland is no longer just flowers. It becomes a story.

And then comes the green parrot

What does Andal hold near her shoulder?

A green parrot!

The little parrot has become one of the most recognisable features associated with Andal of Srivilliputhur.

Traditionally made using leaves and other natural materials, the parrot is carefully crafted and offered to Andal. Its bright green colour stands out beautifully against the flowers and ornaments of the goddess.

The image is unforgettable:

Andal, beautifully adorned, with a green parrot resting near her shoulder.

The parrot has almost become a visual signature of Srivilliputhur Andal.

A garland of glass bangles

There is another beautiful offering made to Andal during the festival — glass bangles.

Devotees buy bangles in different colours and sizes. These colourful bangles are gathered together and tied into strands or garlands and offered to the goddess.

Red, green, yellow, blue, pink and other bright colours come together.

The familiar sound of glass bangles and their brilliant colours make the offering particularly attractive.

A simple bangle, something associated with a woman's everyday adornment, becomes an offering filled with devotion and auspiciousness.

Flowers make a garland. Bangles make another kind of garland.

Both are offered to Andal.

And finally — Srivilliputhur Palkova

And then, of course, comes something that belongs not just to the temple town but to our taste buds.

Srivilliputhur Palkova.

Soft, creamy, rich and delicious, this milk-based sweet has become one of the most famous culinary specialities of Srivilliputhur.

And there is something even more special about it.

Srivilliputtur Palkova has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

It was registered as a GI product in 2019, giving official recognition to a sweet whose dentity is closely associated with Srivilliputhur.

So when we bring home a packet of Srivilliputhur Palkova, we are not merely buying a sweet.

We are taking home a taste of Srivilliputhur.

A celebration in four symbols

So, how would I celebrate Thiruvadi Pooram from afar?

I would begin with the parrot — green, delicate and forever associated with Andal.

Then I would think of the flowers — the long garlands of Srivilliputhur and the beautiful story of Choodi Kodutha Sudarkodi.

Next would come the bangles — colourful glass bangles gathered together and offered to the goddess.

And finally, I would savour Srivilliputhur Palkova — the GI-tagged sweet speciality of the town.

Parrot.
Flowers.
Bangles.
Palkova.

Four simple things, but each carries a story.

And behind all of them stands Andal — Kodhai of Srivilliputhur, the poet-saint whose devotion found expression in Tamil poetry and whose memory continues to live through temples, festivals, flowers, traditions and food.

Perhaps that is the beauty of our festivals.

They don't remain confined to a calendar.

They become part of what we see, wear, offer, eat and remember.

On this Thiruvadi Pooram, let us celebrate Andal through the colours of her town — the green of the parrot, the colours of the flowers and bangles, and the creamy sweetness of Srivilliputhur Palkova.

Choodi kodutha Sudarkodi 

Andal Thiruvadigale Saranam.

Happy Thiruvadi Pooram!

(Srivilliputhur's Andal Temple is associated with the birthplace of Andal and Periyalvar and is one of the important Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams.) 

Turmeric at the Kitchen Door: A Simple Way to Keep Red Ants Away

   

Red ants in the kitchen are tiny, but the trouble they create is anything but tiny.

You may notice them first near a sugar container, a sweet jar or a few crumbs left on the kitchen counter. Then suddenly, there is a whole line of them—walking along the wall, across the platform and, sometimes, right towards the stove.

This is where a simple kitchen ingredient can come to our help: turmeric powder, or haldi.

Turmeric has traditionally been suggested as a natural ant deterrent, and some research has also found repellent effects from turmeric oil against certain ants. However, turmeric powder should be considered a deterrent rather than a guaranteed solution, especially when there is a large infestation.

A little turmeric, a useful barrier

If you notice a trail of red ants entering the kitchen, sprinkle a thin line of dry turmeric powder near their entry point—around cracks, window edges or other places where they are coming in.

The idea is simple: create a barrier that they are reluctant to cross.

A food-safety resource specifically recommends sprinkling turmeric along an ant trail and also suggests keeping kitchen surfaces free from crumbs and sticky spots.

But there is one important point:

Do not sprinkle turmeric directly onto the stove burners or inside the burner openings.

That is not where we want the turmeric to be.

 

Why should we be concerned about ants near the stove?

The stove is one of the busiest places in our kitchen.

Oil splashes, milk spills, sugar, batter, gravy and tiny food particles can collect around the burner area. Even a small residue can become attractive to ants.

And once ants start travelling around the stove, they can get into tiny spaces that are difficult to clean.

A gas stove needs its burner ports and openings to remain clear for proper flame performance. Grease and residue accumulating around burner parts can affect how the stove functions.

So keeping ants away is not merely about avoiding their presence.

It is also about keeping the cooking area clean and the burner functioning properly.

 

Simple ways to keep red ants away

1. Find where they are coming from

Don't simply wipe away the visible ants.

Watch their path.

Where are they entering?

A crack in the wall?
A window edge?
Behind the kitchen platform?
A gap near a pipe?

Once you find the entry point, you can clean it and eventually seal the gap if appropriate.

Ants follow scent trails left by other ants, so disturbing these trails can help reduce repeated traffic.

2. Try the turmeric line

Once the area is clean and dry, put a small line of turmeric powder along the entry point or around the route—not on the stove itself.

It is inexpensive, readily available and already sitting in most Indian kitchens.

3. Keep the stove absolutely clean

After cooking, allow the stove to cool and wipe away:

• oil splashes
• sugar or jaggery residue
• milk spills
• food particles
• curry or batter spills

Fresh spills are much easier to remove than hardened grease. Regular cleaning also helps keep burner openings clear.

4. Keep food covered

Sugar, jaggery, sweets, biscuits and other attractive foods should be kept in tightly closed containers.

Even a few crumbs can invite ants.

Good kitchen hygiene is one of the most important parts of ant prevention.

5. Wipe the ant trail

Don't just sweep the ants away and leave the trail behind.

Clean the surface thoroughly so that food residue and the scent trail are removed.

A simple wipe with soapy water can help remove the trail from hard kitchen surfaces.

6. Keep the area around the stove dry

Ants, like all living creatures, need food and water.

Wipe up water around the sink and stove and don't allow dampness to remain unnecessarily.

A clean, dry kitchen gives them fewer reasons to stay.

 

And what about the burner?

This deserves special attention.

If you suspect ants have entered the burner area, turn off the gas and allow the stove to cool completely before cleaning.

Remove the burner parts according to the manufacturer's instructions and clean away food residue and grease. Burner holes should be kept clear, and the parts should be completely dry before being put back.

Never push turmeric, flour, powders or other household substances into the burner holes.

Our aim is to keep the ants away—not to introduce another obstruction into the stove.

 

Turmeric is a helper, not a magic solution

It is tempting to say, “Just sprinkle turmeric and the ants will disappear.”

But that is not always true.

Studies have found that turmeric can have ant-repellent properties, but results depend on the species, concentration and circumstances. One study found turmeric oil strongly repelled Pharaoh ants under laboratory conditions, while another household-product experiment found cinnamon and lemon more effective than turmeric among the products tested.

So think of turmeric as one small part of an overall kitchen routine:

Clean → remove food sources → disturb the trail → block entry points → use a simple deterrent such as turmeric.

If the infestation keeps returning despite cleaning and sealing entry points, it may be time to seek professional pest control rather than continually treating the visible ants.

 

A yellow line for a clean kitchen

There is something charming about finding solutions in ingredients that are already part of our everyday kitchens.

Turmeric is there to colour our curries, flavour our food and form part of many Indian household traditions.

And perhaps, when red ants decide to visit uninvited, a little yellow line can politely tell them that this kitchen is not their destination.

But the real solution is not turmeric alone.

It is a clean stove, covered food, dry surfaces, clear burner openings and attention to where the ants are entering.

A few minutes of care after cooking can make the next cooking session much easier—and help our stove burn cleanly, work effectively and remain ready for the next meal.

A Name on a Gift: When Giving Becomes a Memory

    

 

Names are special. How special? Perhaps more than we realise.

A name is not merely a word given to us. It becomes a part of our identity, something we grow into and carry throughout our lives. For all of us, our names follow a fascinating journey.

It begins with our birth certificate and official records. Then comes the school application, examination forms, certificates, passports, bank passbooks and countless other documents. Our names slowly find their way into every important chapter of our lives.

But there is another, more affectionate side to our names.

Our loved ones often give us pet names—short, sweet and sometimes completely unrelated to our given names. These names belong to our families. They carry familiarity, affection and memories. Sometimes, hearing that pet name after many years can take us straight back to our childhood.

And then there are names written on gifts.

When we give someone a gift, we often write our name on the gift card. With love, from… A simple message, followed by our name, tells the recipient who thought of them and wanted to make the occasion special.

Sometimes, however, the name does not remain on a card.

It becomes a permanent part of the gift.

In our traditional families, particularly during a wedding, a bride may be sent to her new home with a collection of household articles. Stainless steel vessels, silver articles, brass, bronze and copper utensils have traditionally formed part of this collection.

And what makes them even more personal?

Her name. Her initials. Or sometimes her pet name.

These were engraved on the vessels and other belongings.

There was a practical reason behind this. When several families had similar vessels and household articles, an engraved name or initial made it easier to identify what belonged to whom. It offered clarity and, in a way, protection against confusion or accidental exchange.

But there was something more than practicality involved.

Imagine opening a vessel years later and seeing your name engraved on it.

It is no longer simply a vessel.

It becomes your vessel.

Perhaps it came from your parents when you were married. Perhaps your mother carefully selected it. Perhaps relatives contributed to the collection. Perhaps someone had your pet name engraved because that was how they had always addressed you.

The object becomes a keeper of memories.

The same happens with other gifts. A wedding present, a silver tumbler, a plate, a bowl, a pen, a diary or even a small keepsake can become more meaningful when the giver puts their name on it—or has the recipient's name engraved on it.

A gift card can carry a loving message:

With love,
From Amma and Appa.

The message may fade with time, the card may be misplaced, but the memory of receiving that gift remains.

Engraving takes it a step further. The name becomes part of the object itself.

There is something beautiful about that permanence.

Today, we live in a world where gifts are ordered online, wrapped and delivered directly to the recipient. Sometimes we may not even know what the packaging looks like. A digital message may accompany the gift instead of a handwritten card.

Yet the simple act of putting a name on a gift continues to hold a special charm.

It says, This was chosen for you.

It says, I thought of you.

And when the giver's name is added, it also says, Remember who gave this to you.

Names therefore travel with us in many forms—from official documents to school records, from wedding invitations to bank passbooks, from gift cards to engraved vessels.

Some names are printed.

Some are written.

Some are lovingly called.

And some are engraved in metal, so that even the passing of years cannot easily erase them.

Perhaps that is why a name on a gift feels different.

The gift may be ordinary.

But when a name is attached to it, it becomes personal, memorable and filled with affection.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful thing we can gift someone is not the object itself, but the memory of who gave it, why they gave it, and with how much love.