This impulse purchase is with us for over four decades, as a good luck charm.

Before I come to the topic of the title, I must tell you the importance of Rice to us, it symbolises peace, happiness, prosperity and all things good.

Many would be aware that Rice is very important for us South Indians, as the staple food and as that which can be cooked in many fancy ways, great delicacies indeed, to suit our tastes. And Rice plays a very important role in our religious ceremonies and our traditions.

Rice preparations like Pulihora, Pongal, Payasam and Paramannam are offered to Gods as Naivedhyam (food for Gods). Rice grains mixed with turmeric and vermilion (Akshanthalu) placed in front of Gods and handed over to elders are showered on our heads invoking appropriate blessings to suit the occasion. Akshanthalu from Temples brought to us by friends and relatives are received as great blessings.

At our weddings, there is a ritual called Talambralu, where a large quantity of Rice (about 15 kilograms) mixed with turmeric is placed between the bride and the bridegroom and amidst the chanting of Vedic Slokas, the bride and groom alternatively pickup Talambralu with both hands cupped together and shower alternatively on one another’s heads ushering happiness and prosperity. And after the wedding, every few years a ceremony called Vodibhiyyam is celebrated when the couple is gifted new clothes and the wife is gifted with five handfuls of Rice mixed with turmeric by each of five different ladies.

A newborn baby is named by the father by writing the chosen name with a gold ring on Rice placed on a plate, and this ceremony is called Namakaranam. And before the child starts formal education in school, the father makes the child write ‘OM’ three times on Rice and a Slate, and this ceremony is called Aksharabhyasam.

Similarly, many rituals, rites and customs attributing great significance to Rice exists amongst Buddhists and among many others in China, Japan, both Koreas, Thailand and in other South Asian countries and also in Feng Shui.

Coming to the topic of this article, I was in Bangalore on official work for six months in 1979, from early January to early July. It was during this time that the dates for my Engagement Ceremony and Wedding Ceremony were finalised by our parents. My engagement ceremony was on 2nd April and my wedding on 9th May 1979. Before coming to my hometown for my Engagement Ceremony I bought a few gifts for my fiancée. While some were planned gifts, one was an impulse purchase at M.G. Road, at a stall in Topkapi building – A gift wishing a happy married life written on Rice grains.

With a happy message and our names on five grains of Rice, it turned out to be a good gift, captivating and pleasing. Though a simple and inexpensive gift it has found a place in our showcase of dolls, figurines and travel memorabilia, for over four decades.

With all the importance we give to Rice as I mentioned above, I sincerely consider this impulse purchase of Rice gift as an amulet, a good luck charm… overseeing and blessing us true to the message written on it, over all these years.

This belief is further strengthened by the facts I learnt later, that elsewhere in the world, Rice art is considered to bring good luck, some of its most popular forms being good luck pendants, hope bracelets, charms - where the rice grain is enclosed in a vial with a liquid or oil that magnifies the individual grain making it easier to appreciate the painstaking and intricate details. The variety of jewellery includes – chains, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and anklets. Some of the jewellery is made with paddy too.

I hope the attached pictures will substantiate this article.