Nurungukal contd..............

                                Onam comes immediately after VIRIPPU harvest. There are three seasons for cultivating paddy. Virippu  {April to October }, mundakan {September to January } and punja December to April | They are based on the seasonal variations of weather and availability of water.  Variety of seeds and  package of practices are alsodifferent for each season. Many of the traditional seeds which  were used in those days have extinct now . New hybrid varieties have replaced them. So also the practices. It was purely organic . The advent of green revolution  brought in wide spread use of chemical ferts. The indiscriminate use of chemicals has brought in many problems, eapecialy on maintaining a rich bio mass.

                                After the viripu harvest the feilde will be full of Nellipoovu, a type of blue flower. Onam is a festival of clours and plenty. Coutyards will be decorated with designs of colour full flowers. In those days we used  mainly four flowers, Thumba, Mukkutty, Aripoo or Konginipoo and nellipoo. Children after coming from school go in batches to collect these flowers. Little baskets made of KAITHA OLA, which will be supplied by local carpenter woman are used . While plucking we sang some songs to add a vociferous rythom.

                                KATTA KATTA KAYARITTU,

                                KAYARALANJU MATAKKITU,

                                NETTIPATTAM  POTTITTU,

                                NEREVATHILKAL NEY VECHU

                                CHENNUKULUKKI, CHENNUKULUKKI,

                                CHENTHAMARA POOMKUNDA ILAYITTU,

                                POOVE POLI, POOVEPOLI POOVE....111