Roots That Never Leave Us: Chapter 3

A Celebration Like the Movies

In the early 2000s, something special happened.

My grandfather wished to conduct my puberty ceremony in our village home. My father agreed — believing it would be a beautiful cultural experience for me.

Relatives poured in from everywhere.

For two whole days, the entire village was fed — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — in grand traditional style.

There was the turmeric bathing ceremony, the Thaimaman Seervarisai, music, dance, laughter, and rituals that felt straight out of a Tamil movie.

In fact, whenever I think of it now, I remember scenes from the movie Kadhal — because my celebration was nothing less than that grandeur.

The house was alive again.

The courtyard echoed with voices.
The kitchen worked nonstop.
The village became one big family.

I didn’t know then that those golden days would slowly begin to fade.

**To be Continued**

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