Nurun gukal  contd..........

                                Mukkiti poovu blossoms in the morning, as the sun rays fall on the buds. It is bright yellow in colour. We collect them in Colocasia { chembu } leave kumbil. For eight days starting from Athum, in the month of Chingam flowers are arranged in different designs. Our sister selects the designs and she is very artistic. The celebrations gains momentum from Pooradam. Onam markets commence on this day. It is known as POORADAM VANIBUM. It is on this day at noon we make THRKAKARAPPAN in mud. This is a symbolic representation of Lord Vishnu. Three conical shaped mud blocs are placed in the NADUMITTAM. One used to be slightly bigger which is kept on a PEEDAM in the middle. The idols are seated on wooden plank after decorating the floor with rice paste . This consists of an intricate design, lotus shell horn, bow and arrow and sudarshana chakram, as you see Vishnu with all decorations. Bunches of different flowers add beauty to this arrangement.  Till Thiru onam every day thrice pooja is conducted by a boy, with the accompaniments of the beating of VILLU. My father was an expert on this and it will be almost like a Chenda Melam.

                                On UTHRADAM, there will be a musical performance by PANAN and his wife  accompanied by a fiddle. They will sing a few couplets praising THIKAKARAPPAN.

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

                                

Nurungukal contd ....

        Otu of the 27 NHATUVELAS, some are very important for agriculture viz; KARTHIKA,MKEERYAM, THIRUVATHIRA. Each NHATUYELA  has a duration of 13 days.  There are 27 of them ASWATHI  BHARANI, KARTHIKA.............. and  REVATHI It  is related to the Zodiac formation.

         In KARTHIKA the earth should scorch, in MAKSEERYAM it should rain in cats and dogs,and in THIRUVAATHIRA it should drizle without break. Summer rains are also good for vegitation.

                After Vishu the next ceremony is Nirapara. Usualy it is observed by Land lords. The month of Karkidakam when there will be incesant rain diseases are comon. Just to keep our body healthy and free of illness speciial foods are taken. It is the month of Ramayanam reading. On the first day of this month NIRA PARA is observed. Medicinal plants like NALPAMARAM { athi, ithi, arayal and peral } and Desapushpam { mukkitti, karuka,kayyunni,poovamkurunila, muyalchevi, uzhinha, cheroola, nilappana, thiruthali, krishnakranthi } termeric ,Nelkathir {heads of paddy } etc are collected and brought to the house ceremoniously. I think this event gave us awareness of medicinal plants .  In away it gave importance to biodiversity conservation and agriculure,

Nurungukal contd .........

          Seasons came one by one in succession without fail . Each of them behaved differently  . Their presence was felt not by the time chart in the calender, but by their exclusive influence on nature. If one was wet the other dry yet another windy. One so colourful.All made us to react to their tune. So was our festivals and carnivals . There was a synergy. Complementary to each other

          Medam is the first month for us. .  The VISHU is celebrated now..The first thing that comes to our mind is the bright yellow flower KANIKONNA which is the fore runner of this festival. The next is the VISHU KANI. The sight of self sufficiency. Then the crackers providing a noisy and colourful welcome to our new year. The frugal tip that father gave, with awesome blessing  invariably spent to hire cycle for a Joly ride. Mother always served  a full meal on these occasions with PAYASAM . Father would be busy in making arrangements to complete the paddy sowing process which he might have commenced on the previous day. Invariably there will be a drizzle providing moisture for the seeds to sprout.

Nurungukal contd.......

                          Seasons appeared in prompt schedule. Monsoon broke on June first without fail. The day when schools are reopened after the long summer vacation. Another  year of academic explorations.All new ,class mates , teachers  and rooms.  But no new text books.We collected them from our seniors. Slowly new friendship is developed and groups are formed. As the monsoon gains strength, it will pour in cats and dogs. All the ponds , rivulets and paddy fields will overflowing providing ideal locations for our frolics. We spend long hours in ponds swimming playing till our eyes become blood red. Fishing was another past time. There were many ways of catching. In traps, on hooks Even shooting with sharp pins. Elders taught swimming. The float we used was two coconut s tied together . Or we lie on the hands and vigorously slap hands and legs . Many a time I had drunk water as the hand is withdrawn. During rainy days it was difficult to know the time . There was no clock or time piece in our house. Usually we found the time by looking at the position of the sun rays inside the house. When  the light reaches certain positions we know the time to leave for school. Other wise  we have to depend on the movements of our adjacent children.

Nurugukal contd............Ponnani is on the shore of Arabian sea.Other sides are surrounded by Bharatha puzha,Biyyam back wates and stretches of paddy fields and coconut groves. Altogether it is a miniature Kerala { Gods Own country } The landscape is breath taking.Lush green patches of Paddy fields laced in between coconut gardens.Many canals and streams intertwine providing an ecology so pristine.Many species of fish frogs and other creatures nurtured on the banks of these rivers and rivulets. So was the sacred groves conserving biodiversity on a faith. It is an irony that faith was more power full than any man made laws.  One or two ponds adjacent to Nalukettu was common. There were no bath rooms instead we took bath in the crystal clear waters of the ponds.It also provided us an opportunity to learn swimming at our early ages.

Nurungukal contd......

Even now I have a vivid memmory of my childhood in Ponnani. Ponnani is so special because it carries a bundle of unioque cafeteria.It was a viillage in its true sense.