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Malli Muhurtham

It was a beautiful sunny day, and the guests were thronging at the mandapam. It was Kalyani and Krishnan's wedding and all the relatives and guests were busy greeting each other. The ladies dressed in colorful silk sarees paired with traditional jewelry complimented each other and enquired where they had bought their sarees and jewelry from. The gentlemen sat with a tumbler of hot filter coffee and casually chatted about the upcoming elections in the neighboring state. Some vehemently suggested a change in government through the election, while the others expressed their overall disappointment with the current political scenario. The kids were chasing each other and some tripped over their own skirts and cried loudly, competing with the volume of the nadaswaram, an instrument played during auspicious occasions in south India. There were also some aunties introducing some parents to other parents in the hope of sowing the seed of a prospective marriage for their children.

Kalyani peeped out of the bride's room, to get a glimpse of what was happening outside. Her saree was a brilliant orange and she looked radiant in the attire and jewelry. However, her eyes looked a little worried. They were welling up with tears every now and then and she kept controlling the tears from ruining her makeup. She sat in front of the mirror, and her stylist had just finished braidingher hair. Her mother entered the room and stood behind Kalyani's chair. She looked in awe at how quickly and beautifully Kalyani had grown into such a big girl, and embraced her warmly. Kalyani looked at her mother and held her hands tightly, and her mother at once, felt the nervousness she was experiencing.

She garbbed a few muzhams of the fresh mallipoo from the dressing table and neatly decorated it on Kalyani's braid. Placing a hand on Kalyani's head, she said, "You are an incredibly smart and strong girl. You might feel nervous because of the drastic changes occuring in your life, but remember that a heart which is warm and a mind which knows endurance will help you bloom gracefully wherever you are planted." Her amma's words of wisdom and the fragrance coming from the malli in her hair soothed her. She brought a strand of the densely knit malli and admired its beauty, and how it also made her feel and look confident and magnificent.

Kalyani's cousins and Krishnan's sisters accompanied her to the wedding stage as her bridesmaids, and she felt elated when Krishnan gestured to her that she looked stunning. Kalyani smiled wide and welcomed the newness of the many relationships she would establish through this marriage and told her heart that it would all be fantastic and a journey filled with love and togetherness.

Malli inspires us in unexpected, subtle yet significant ways. This blossom of delight has brought a smile on our faces, even without us realizing it. This is malligai's magic and strength, shining through her simplicity.