Village vignettes - home is where the fire burns

Home is where the fire burns.

The act of cooking on firewood daily, year after year, meal after meal, anchors the soul. Arrangeing the tinder, and small twigs, and starting the fire, blowing a steady stream of air. The putting the bigger logs. The flames dance while the rice cooks in the pot. And slowly recede into glowing embers that light up the fireplace and the soul.

The ash is scooped away to wash the dishes with, using the coconut fibres. The wash waster flows to the drumstick tree. The soul finds succour in cyclic processes.









Dry firewood burns smokelessly. Forestwood is desired as it burns steadily without much smoke or ash. Neem wood is also a good fuel. 

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The blessing of cooking on a firewood stove.

The grace and beauty of dancing flames.

The taste of food cooked in pots on firewood.

The wood comes from the village space.

The ash returns to the soil. And serves for washing the vessels.

Complete cycles anchor the soul.