Phalguni
A moon-phase kanbala that electrifies with its one-point perspective wherein a large crescent moon is seen not velvety and lustrous but instead torn apart in its heart to show how painfully it pine...
A moon-phase kanbala that electrifies with its one-point perspective wherein a large crescent moon is seen not velvety and lustrous but instead torn apart in its heart to show how painfully it pines to be complete.
In the ripped core we see its intricate feelings decorated as they are with the romance of fine filigree bordering gently lighted diyas that together frame, in the centre, a shining full moon with a fragrant flower imprint upon it and identical baby moons encircling it as if to protect it from itself. To the sides, the Manipuri half-chaand continues while being edged with ball-karais on the top and simple orbs at the bottom from which are suspended equal ball clusters with a large serrated split ball in the middle of each. It's as if a calming breeze will blow through and gently rock the doleful moon to sleep.
In the second phase, the crescent moon's smaller but visibly happier and shiny and bright. The glow's returned to her face for she knows the truth of her waning and waxing. Realised in completely plain-polished Manipuri, the ardha-chandra has laid bare her soul and rests peacefully, the reji-ball border protecting her dreams and the single large ball-karai a moondrop representing her tears of joy at being loved just the way she is though in her heart of hearts it's the full moon she wants to be.
Right on top, as the pasha, the purna-chandra reigns, in the last phase, but this time with ball and filigree and the baby moons all there to dutifully ornament her and prepare for her to rise and make gold the world with her glorious light. A lone serrated split-ball drop keeps a connection with the first phase and reminds how cyclical life is and that there is always a certain joy hidden within all sadness and, equally, just a tinge of melancholy to any and every kind of human happiness.
This is the season, the month, in Bengal when this is most evident. As spring is walked unwillingly into summer and the beauty and liveliness of Basanta give way to a draining, scorching Grishhya-kaal, such feelings of happiness and helplessness blend and make us each the guinea-gold full moon of Phalgun, watchful and wary of our waning but eager and aware of our being complete as well for we know ourselves and our virtues as no-one else does.
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