Winter's Holy Days

IN WINTER SABARIMALA A TRIP TO REMEMBER: In winter all men down south of India Follow celibacy for 40days They are up by very early in the morning Praying meditating on the lord They would never shave but bathe Morning and evening to maintain hygiene They wear black to show their Detachment into any normal life. They will not attend any wedding Stay away from all celebrities They have restricted food No onions or garlic but saatvic food That could be gruel or soup Sleeping on a water reed mat Nothing too comfy on the bed With a wooden plank for a pillow They should be at ease. no sandals or boots allowed one need to walk bare foot along the thorny hilly path filled with snakes and wild elephants and thorns. one loose their identity as all are dressed alike to loose the "I" and be equal among all the ego is taken away. The 40th day they celebrate together And carry a coconut filled with clarified butter Along with some rice on their head To give it to the bachelor lord of the hills Some time these holy days are extended From mid November to mid January To see the celestial wonder of star High above when the temple opens in décor All shout in ecstasy the lord is pleased the lord is pleased Beautiful lullaby is sung to put the lord to sleep It is a holy time with winter many around have different Mode and ways to spend in the name of lord….sunkan LET ME ADD A BRIEF in south india or the whole of india sometime come together to follow this trip to sabarimala the deity is known to have been born from two males shiva and narayana who came as mohini to bring him into this world. so he will not have anything to do with female in his vicinity, so women lesser than 10 and above 55 are allowed to go to see him, to see him one must follow celibacy and strict meditation and lead a ascetic life for the period that they follow to go and see him...sunkan