Moon is used in world literature as an allusion,allegory simile to express various emotions.
The practice of using the concept Moon as a part of Life goes to the Tamils.
There is no Poet who has not sung about Moon right from the Classical Age of the Sangam till the present day.
It is also the part of Indian life to show Moon and feed the child.
Usually a song is sung inviting The Moon to play with the child.
This has been such an expected custom that a special grammar has been created to accommodate this activity.
In Pillai Thamizh, The Tamil of The child, various stages of the child’s growth has been explained and suitable songs were sung.
Those who know Tamil, enjoy this song, Thiuvoimozhi of Periyazhvar sung in praise of Lord Krishna asking Him to sleep while making Him sleep in a Cradle.
The celebration of the Moon is not restricted children.
Moon is used to express Love,Pangs of separation and even pathos.
I am proving some songs towards the close of the Post.
It is the practice, as the child grows up, to have the family sit around in the Pial( a reclining slab at the entrance of the House) have the food made into a Ball , place in the Palm of the family members.
This is/was widely practiced.
I used it to do this for my children till they were in the Ninth or tenth standard.
The taste and the camaraderie one feels as a Unit is incomparable.
Children eat more than what they usually consume.
Tamils have taken this a step further,
In ancient days, Homes had a special area built, normally in the first floor and the Kings used to build a Floor for this purpose , enjoy the Moon and take food.
This place is called the Courtyard of Moon.’Nila Mutram’.
There is also the practice of eating under the Moon with the family on the Full Moon Day of the Chaitra,Chiththitrai Month , The Full Moon Day of April.
Special festival is celebrated on this day and this is special in Madurai, Chitra Pournami
Such simple pleasures do not cost you nor do they harm children.
We seem to be losing them.
Some Old movie songs on Moon.
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