Nurungukal contd ....

                                As the last batch of sparrows vanish into the woods yonder leaving a hope to return next season the village responds to the sound of drums and processions heralding Poorams and Velas in the  village temples. Then many folklore artists parade one by one in loud chorus, reminding the glory of the bygone days. It is the beginning of happy  and adventurous days for us. The whole community participates and  each one playing their role to make  the event  a great success.

                                In the intervening days we used to make a trip to Guruvayur. On few occasions father arranged the journey in a house boat { PURA MANCHI }The back water river from our place extends up to Chavakad. We board the boat by dusk. There will be one or two close relatives in company. The whole night we have to be in the boat. A frugal dinner will be served. Mother will slowly open her bundle of stories. Children listened to the splashing of the long bamboo sticks in water as the rowers pushed the boat forward. In the night the river will be crowded with other boats carrying cargo, especially coir yarn. There were many small coir factories , processing coconut husks and spinning yarn on the two banks of this river.My father also had one. Often the rowers made different calls to draw the attention of boats coming in opposite direction, THEKKU PO WADAKU PO etc. Some of them were good singers of VANCHI PATTU.

                                We  will reach Chavkkad as the sun peeps out, or VELLA KEERA. From there the journey was in a bullock cart. The road was rickety, and the cart moved swaying with a clank.