Hema Ravi

Children Stories

2.8  

Hema Ravi

Children Stories

RAMYA'S GOLU

RAMYA'S GOLU

5 mins
299



The shimmering wares in the assortment of shops on either sides of the road dazzled brightly in the evening light. Sea breeze had set in and the evening air was quite pleasant. Gaily dressed men, women, and children young and old in small and large groups walked past briskly, at times stopping in front of a shop to take a better look, at other times, checking out the prices and just moving on.

It was an exhilarating and immersive experience for Ramya, her eyes feasted on the sensorial delights all around. This was the first time she was in the famous Mada Street of Mylapore, whose iconic landmarks included the historical Kapaleeswarar Temple and Sri Ramakrishna Math. Ramya and her parents were on their way to attend a family wedding at the temple. They lived in a remote village in Chingleput, a district close to Chennai. Yet, prior to this, Ramya had no opportunity to visit the bustling city called Chennai (Pattanam, as her grandmother would say!)

She gazed at the magnificence of the towering gopuram as they ambled towards the temple entrance. Although she knew nothing about its history and the significance of the name Mylapore - ‘Mayil aparikkum oor,’ or ‘Land where peacocks scream,’ she was jubilant. Her mother had just bought her two dozens of colourful bangles to match her yellow paavadai and green chattai, that had been gifted to her by Teacher Akka. She had no knowledge that Mylapore was so called because peacocks thrived in the place. References to the beautiful birds were made by the saints who visited and chronicled their experiences; besides, the temple has magnificent carvings, which include peacocks.

The wedding function began in time. Ramya and her parents found a comfortable corner from where they could watch the proceedings. The photographer was clicking away constantly, the bride and the bridegroom bedecked in jewellery and fine clothes were beaming with joy. Ramya could not take her eyes off the beautiful bride.who was dressed in a bright orange and gold sari. The bridegroom sported a shiny silk kurta in grey with white pyjamas. Loads and loads of seeru trays in an assortment of colours and shapes adorned the dais. Ramya’s eyes did not miss the plus-sized women in dazzling saris. Her mother was dressed in a shiny Royal Blue Art Silk sari with a bright red border- one of the three good saris that she possessed, which she wore to weddings in the village or in the nearby towns. She had her thali on a yellow thread, a simple gold chain, a thin pair of golden bangles and a colourful churukku-pai purse. Ramya thought her mother looked more graceful than the garishly dressed, garrulous women in the venue.

The wedding formalities were soon complete and all the guests assembled for dinner. Ramya, along with her mother and father stood in the line, got their paaku madal plates with a lot of delicious food. They went to a corner, sat down and relished the food. Too shy to go for a second helping, they left their polished plates in the assigned bin, washed their hands, had water, took leave of the hosts who offered the ceremonial thamboolam and thanked them for coming. The wealthy host, the father of the bride was a cousin of her father’s and he owned vast acres of agricultural property in their village. Many times, Appa was called to help in their fields. At other times, he worked in his own small field, cultivated vegetables and sold them in the neighbouring market.

Six year old Ramya was their only child, her parents showered her with the love that was possible from a poor man’s smoky chambers. They sent her to a nearby government school and she was an energetic child. Her Teacher Akka loved her ‘why’ questions. Ramya would ask her several questions that she could not readily answer. For instance, one day, Ramya asked her – How do birds fly? Can I fly like a bird?

Akka just said, ‘I don’t know! I shall find out and tell you the answer.’ And she did so the following day. Akka explained that birds overcame ‘gravity’ with a force called ‘lift’ that was made by moving the wing at speed through air, which enabled them to rise upwards. Akka never dismissed anything as a ‘silly question.’

While walking back on the same road towards the Tirumailai Railway Station, Ramya watched with wonder at the vast display of dolls. It was the month of September and Navarathri was around the corner. Soon ‘why’ questions were posed to Amma- What is the purpose of this festival? Why do we not celebrate it? Amma, being uneducated in the conventional sense could not answer her volley of questions. ‘Teacher Akka will be able to tell you everything, why don’t you ask her tomorrow?’ she said and walked on. To appease her, Amma got her an idol of Saraswathi. Clutching the tiny idol wrapped in newspaper, Ramya walked along, eagerly awaiting the meeting with her teacher.

Teacher Akka gave her the answers almost immediately. Navaratri derived from two Sanskrit words –nava, which means nine and ratri, which means night. The festival symbolizes victory of good over evil; Goddess Durga fought the demon Mahishasura for nine days and beheaded him on the tenth day. Dusshera or Vijayadashami is celebrated on the tenth day. Saraswati Puja aka Ayudha Puja are performed on the ninth day. Teacher Akka also told Ramya that she could keep the idol at home, along with her books, pencils, colours, and offer prayers to seek the goddess’ blessings. She also offered to teach Ramya a few paper dolls that could be displayed in her golu at her home.

Appa brought a huge bunch of yellow bananas as offering. Amma prepared a large quantity of jaggery payasam. Teacher Akka and the other friends from the neighbourhood participated in the puja. Led by Akka, they sang devotional songs. Soon, all of them sat together in a circle to savour the ripe bananas and the payasam served in banana leaf dhonnais.

Draped in white, Ma Saraswathi smiled contentedly.


Notes:

Gopuram – Temple Tower

Paavadai-chattai – Indian costume also known as ghagra-choli

Sari – Indian costume worn by women.

Kurta –pyjama - Indian costume worn by men on traditional occasions.

Golu – Dolls Festival

Paakku madal- Areca leaf

Seeru – Gifts given by parents to the bride at the time of marriage.

Thali – A necklace worn by a woman to signify she is married

Churukku pai – Shrink bag to keep money, keys etc.

Thamboolam – Goodie bag with betel leaves, areca nut and fruit.

Appa - Father

Amma – Mother

Akka – Elder sister

Payasam – Sweet dish also known as kheer

Puja – Prayer

Dhonnai – Cup made of plantain or other leaves lead pinned in the corners.

 



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