The little ritual

Every community back here in India has it's own little customs that is amazing but unwanted. My community does this special puja during the Shravan month which is called the 'chudi puja'. Shravan is basically the fifth month in the Hindu calendar that marks the beginning of monsoons. We consider monsoons auspicious as that brings life on Earth. We celebrate this month by fasting on various days.

My community considers Fridays and Sundays as those auspicious days where we we create small bunch of flowers and special weeds, that we call Chudi, to thank the nature for it's wonders. Chudi's are usually made with wild colorful flowers that are tied together with durva grass in odd numbers, that are all available for free during this month. The chudi's are then offered to Tulsi (basil plant) by every married female in the community. After the basil plant, these Chudi's are offered to goddess that we are devoted to and then distributed among elders of the community.

Women are expected to stay empty stomach till the Pooja is done. The ritual is believed to bring prosperity to husband and home and is followed regiligiously by every female in the community. The colorful chudi's look amazing.

I do follow this tradition with all my heart inspite of knowing that it would have no impact on my or my husband's prosperity, but it is always good to follow what your elders believed in isn't it? In this way at least I will pass on the tradition to my kids rather than let it erase completely from the society.