Curse or blessing? 😃

Photo taken in my uncle , Anathakrishnan's house on 25 / November / 2019. 

A mother-in-law used to tell her daughter-in-law “നീ പൊട്ട കൊലം അഴിയട്ടും, ഉൻ താലി ഇറുകട്ടും”.

Translation: "Let the kolam you draw be destroyed, let your thali choke you.” 

What is a kolam ?

It is a traditional drawing drawn using rice flour. in front of homes & in the pooja rooms early in the morning as a sign of auspiciousness. 

Thali?

It is the wedding chain a married Indian woman wears all through her life. A deeply symbolic chain, indeed.

The daughter in law was very irritated with the old lady.

Why was the mother-in-law saying such inauspicious things?

Coming to this photo.....

What is you see here is a complete destruction of the "maa-kolam" drawn by my aunt.

Who did this?

This was done by my nieces aged nearly 2, 3 & 5!

Now you understand? The mother-in-law was NOT cursing, but blessing the daughter-in-law to deliver a baby!

A baby pulls the chain hard while feeding and nearly chokes the mother. And when he/she starts walking, no kolam ever remains intact!