The business of lighting an oil lamp

Those of you familiar with my rants on the society being seemingly upset that I am still single, well here's an update. The latest was the flower vendor my dad met a couple of days back. Basically she is an old timer and has not been around Besant Nagar for a while. So they caught up discussing things and as usual this inquiry propped up.

Anyways, for the past many months now, my dad - under the stern instructions of my mom of course - has been visiting the temple every Saturday. He goes almost daily, but Saturdays are never skipped. So also Tuesdays, but I digress.

Whenever I am available at home on a Saturday, I too accompany him. Again, more often not by choice. I get hints from mom and these come under have varied hues. A popular one is the desperate plea for me to be more religious. But she knows when to use it. Because, if she is in a good mood, I can argue easily with her and wriggle myself out of going. If she is not in a good mood, I know better not to argue! This one actually has many variations like 'onnoda nallathukku thaan solraen' or 'saamiya pazhichukkaadha' or under extreme duress she recommends that i join the DK!

The other popular and always winning one is the emotional blackmail where she makes me go not for her or me, but for my father. Saying things like, 'avarukku mudiayala, konjam kood poyittu vaa' makes me weak and i have to yield.

I have nothing against going to temples. The problem is that, my mother wants me to visit this temple and LIGHT A LAMP! Yeap. I aethufy a vellakku to keep Saturn happy.

After many weeks, I now feel that this lamp thingy is quite a good cottage industry. To me it looks like there is a good Business Opportunity for those inclined to make money that way.

I pay 5 bucks for that lamp. Its a small 'agal vellakku'. The vendor also supplies oil in a tiny plastic container, provides a match box and places all this on a plate too. The entire business runs on he honor system. Like I take this lamp inside, light it and then I can leave the plate, match box and the oil container near the lamp lighting zone. There is also a mysterious thing that is actually burnt in the lamp. Its not your usual wick. Its a small cloth bundle and is ALWAYS black in color. This has to be placed inside the vellakku and then oil is poured on it. Then you light this cloth.

What also irks me some more is the fact that, neither is a deadline to meet nor is there a minimum/maximum number of times one has to light up lamps in this fashion!

Whoever came up with the idea of this lamp and making a good industry out of it - Sir/Madam your business acumen is matchless.