The holy month of Ramayana is here !!

In kerala the month of July-August called karkadakam is spent reading the holy book of Ramayana. Ever since I can remember I have always been fond of these days for the mere tradition it carries with itself. People get up very early in the morning visit the temple and then have a medicinal porridge followed by a list of ayurvedic medicines for detox and purification of the body. This is ofcourse followed by the reading of the Ramayana essentially to cleanse the mind as well. The day before the actual month begins is celebrated as sankaranthi, where by all houses in the neighbourhood clean their respectives homes and then burn all the wastes that they throw away , in a way simplifying the removal of negative thoughts and bad things from their lives as well. The ladies also engage in putting mehandi in their hands and also cutting their hair, in a way signifying the welcoming of a new begining . The whole month people devoid themselves from anything nonvegetarain and indulge in medicinal herbs and plants and eat all natural foods
I really appreciate the thought put in by our ancestors in scripting such beautiful traditions into our lifes, helping us to slow down and take a grip of our lives and respect and nuture the body and mind God has gifted us with