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                                Yesterday I mentioned about a trip to Guruvayoor which happened in 1950.The mode of transport was eco friendly without the use of any petroleum product. I feel that the abuse of natural resources took place during the last half a century and we have to be held responsible for the pollution and answerable to the next generation.

                                We stayed in a cottage rented by the guruvayur sathra with minimum facilities. The house keeper was an old lady whom my mother was familiar with.One or two small hotels  managed by Brahmins provided homely food. But we preferred to eat the prasadam rice along with mango pickle prepared by mother.

                                We used to stay for a week and took darshans from Nirmalyam to Athazha poja. We also enjoyed the Krshattam kali as father was very fond of it. He explained  the Mudras and Veshams.Those days people used to offer cows and even elephants. You can see them all round the temple. A few spotted deers and rabbits were also found inside the temple. Altogether we enjoyed the stay and journey and would return in a happy mood.

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                                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.

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                                Anniversary day celebrations , each one of us look forward very eagerly. Those days we did not have  School Kalolsavam.Anniversary is a culmination of many days of sports and games events too. Long hall was the venue. Drama ,classical dances. Mono acts and many other art forms will be staged . Competitions were purely for sports and games and in literature .We had two PT teachers who took great pain to conduct the events meticulously . Encouragements came in the form of trophy, medal or some gift in the case of sports and games . Where as in the case of art items books written by famous authors were given.

                                Our school had a good KHO KHO team  and once we won a state level tourney. We took the trophy  in a procession on the main road. The hero of our team was one of my cousin ,Baby ettan, who is none other than the husband of actress Ambika {Kandam vecha kottu }Similarly there were some good sprinters also who won state level medals.

                                Ponani has given birth to many literary personalities like Edaseery Govindan Nair ,Uroob, K.P>Unnikrishnan. Because of that she always was a ground for many cultural activities. Krishna Panickar Vayanasala was a cultural hub in those days.

                                The ball badminton tournament conducted every year by the Union Club  carried the name of Ponani far and near. Teams from Tellichery, Cannoor, Coimatore etc took part in it. Each team exhibited unique style and mastery. We used to watch the games in wonder because the shots  and the takes were executed in such great speed and accuracy.

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                                When I look back to my school days first thing that appealed me was the setting of the campus. About three acre cmpound, cotaining 3 to 4 old buildings and a vast play ground and assembly ground. The buildings were named viz; LONG HALL, CORONATION HALL, NEW HALL etc. There were tiled sheds also. Higher standards were housed in buildings and the lower ones in sheds.The laboratary and teachers room and craft room were fairly big when compared to those ones in other schools. The craft teacher tought us hand loom weaving .  Every student had to spin yarn with help of a spindle { THAKKILI }                         We had a peon named Kunhiraman, who was in charge of sports and games. The dexterous way in which he filled air in a foot ball was a sight to watch. Others would frequently damage the neck of the bladder. Similarly the speed at which he used to draw lines with lime powder for track and field events , I think nobody can attain. I can even now visualize the way he walks with a peculiar gait and his hair style KUDUMA.  There was another peon named Gopalan. He attended to office work always  putting up a smile, and  dear to all.

                                Many of the teachers  put on coats. Among them Achuthan master was the most harmless. Some naughty boys used to steal chalk pieces from his pocket and he pretended to have not seen it. He wrote on the black board with a beautiful hand. Such a hand writing I am yet to see. Madhava Warier, tall and fair walked in long strides was elegant and grace full. I heard that he has now crossed 100 years. Sekhara Warier who was the head master was a personality we all fear. He wuld go round the corridors with a cane and used to punish severely those who does mischief.Cicaly and Anandavally teachers were so loving and good in their profession. I am proud to be part of that legacy.

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                                As the sweet memories of Onam celebrations slowly fades away there emerges the rustic Mundakan  season of paddy accompanied by Thulavarsham.  It is muddy and splashy. When it gathers momentum all the paddy fields will be full of activity like, ploughing, sowing ,transplanting etc. Rows of bullocks or buffaloes will be taken  round and round in a definite pattern by rustic men to churn the  earth . Then the levelling , which attracts us . Very rarely the men will allow us to stand on the levelling plank while the cattle pull at fairly at good speed. It is a risky game . Because if we  loose the balance it is sure that we are thrown out and possible to get some injury.  If our father is around the men will never allow us and we have to remain as good spectators.  After the levelling in some places there will be some running race by the cattle's . For that the yoke and the levelling planks are of special make. Some land lords used to groom special breeds exclusively for this competition, which is a very costly proposition. I have seen this Kalapoottu in Anakkara. There will be a big crowd to encourage by shouting and drum beating which add fun to this village game.

                                Then the transplanting. When women takes over the stage. It is a sight to watch. A row of village belles will transplant the seedlings. In their left hand they will hold the bunch of seedling and with right hand it will be immersed at regular spacing in the field moving backwards. The movements are rhythmic to the tune of Wadakkan pattu. Now I should remember Kunhamma who  used to loudly lead the music and others  backed up in chorus.  During this season we heard this chorus from every field awakening the village. Now it is all a past glory. 

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                                Mother with the help of a retinue of female and male assistants  cooked special food. On days like this food was served in plantain leaves which is supposed to have some medicinal effect Thiruvonam lunch was always special as the saying goes Kanam vittum Onam unnanam. Break fast menu was different. Steamed Nenthran banana pieces and fried Pappadam.

                                We will gather at pre set places ,usually in a house where there is a big compound. Our most favourite games were Thala panth, { similar to cricket or base ball } Hopping {kochi kal},foot ball { ball made out of rags }and even hide and seek {kallanum policeum } We even ventured to watch a movie in the local CENEMA TALKIES note not a theatre. For this we used to save the small tips our elders gave, which of course happened once in a blue moon.

                                Each of them was an exclusive experience which our children missed. The dialogue we had with nature and the togetherness we felt during  these adventures can not be revived in this computer age. May be such frolics imbibed in us a social commitment.I do not know whether we lost a culture, tradition under external influence or we went behind it unknowingly. Yet we say that "old order changes yielding place to new "!! Past is past be prepared for tomorrow.

Nurungukal: Nurun gukal contd.......... ...

Nurungukal: Nurun gukal contd..........                       ...: Nurun gukal  contd..........                                 Mukkiti poovu blossoms in the morning, as the sun rays fall on the buds. It...