Talking Photo: Gonnsa Fog
To us ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ means just two things:
‘Gonnsa Neurio’ & ‘Gonnsa Fog’
Gonnsa Neurio are same as our ‘Natlam Neurio’ with same type of
Neuri-fillings such as Sweetened Coconut gratings, Gram flour, Rawa etc.
See a pic in the end. Only given to us today 31st Aug.2009 by one
of our Hindu Friends.
Now let’s talk about ‘gonnsa fog’
It nothing but the fire works such as fire crackers/ coloured
display, bombs, rockets etc
Every year, there was a hug fire work display at our house
during Ganesh Chaturthi.
We being the richest in our locality (Tarvotti Father remember?), all
the children used to gather at our place on a particular day.
My father gave me just Rs.5 and with that I got loads of ‘gonnsa fog’
from the market. After some years, I remember, my budget for
‘gonnsa fog’ gone upto Rs.50 (thanks to my Dad) and it remain
steady for several more years.
Today, the then Rs.50 would equals to about Rs.800-1000.
OK, let me mention the each type of ‘gonnsa fog’ that I used to buy or fire.
Following are the typical items:
1. GIRGIRIM (sing. Girgirem)
These are coiled round type, once alight, they go round and round like
a too but all over giveng spark through out.
It has to be positioned the right way (not upside down) before lighing.
Beware: It may (very rarely) blow like a bomb. There are up to
three sizes. Small, medium and Large costing 10p, 25p & 50p respectively.
2. SURSURIM (sing. Sursurem)
These are hand-held which give starry sparkles or display.
Very common during Diwali too. Very Cheap.
5 paise each or pay 50p for a box of 12 sticks.
3. PAUS (Sing/Pl. Paus)
These are cone shaped and once lighted, it will go up and come down
like RAIN hence we called it ‘PAUS’
Again it comes with 3 sizes and with same price tag as in No. 1 above.
However, very large one also available like the one used at the
church vesper, feasts etc.
Once, in a hurry, the lighted cone which was standing vertical accidentally
fell in its horizontal position, which resulted in a
deep hole in our red cemented verandah floor. I got ‘solid’ scolding
from my parents.
4. SOROP (with paper picture)
Long paper picture of snake with fire attachment underneath.
Once lighted, it will run helt-skelter or in a zig-zag direction
like a snake.
It’s cost was 10p
5. SOROP 2 or SORPA GULLIO (sing/pl. sorop)
Again, this is about a snake. Or snake pills (Sorpa Gullio).
Round (the size of Crocine tablets or Std pills size) but dark colour.
You light anywhere on it and a dark snake will come out, as if coming
from the ground.
It can be up to 1 meter long. Once the snake formation process was
over, it will give out an unpleasant smell like that of burnt
tar/rubber/tyre/carbon
It can stain your floor so place on a dark paper etc
Small box would cost 10p for 5 tablets.
This item very hard to find now. I guess it is not very popular so
many shops/dealer don keep with them.
6. BOMB (sing/Pl. Bomb)
Small paper wrapped heavy stones like wrappers.
Just strike it hard on a hard or cemented floor (including roads) and
it will burst instantly making louder bomb like sound..
Each cost 5p
7. SURSURIM 2
These are again hand held but long like a rope.
It’s is sort of a sparkling display.
Cost 15p
8. ARM (pl. Arma)
It’s a postol a metal one.
It will take a strip of bullets and one can fire continuously for about
25 shots.
Cost was Rs.1.50
9. ARMA GULLIO or Roketta Gullio
Cartridges for pistol. A long red colour strip of cartridges coiled into
a tiny round box and was sold separately for
5p each.
Similar round box came with separate or individual red coloured
round catriges for rockets see 13
10. SURSURIM 3
Long and round tubular, little wider than a pencil.
Handheld and it would give multicolor display
15p each stck.
11. ROKET (pl. Rokettam)
This is something that came later.
For a safe lighting, it is always advisable to insert it in bottle
(with stick inside) so that it goes straight up vertically.
There was an incidence, when lighted in hand, it straight went and hit
a nearby hut but we quickly run and put off the fire.
Re.1
12. Rokett 2
Sadly, we do not find it now.
It needed a thread or string to be tied to two poles or coconut trees.
When lighted, the rocket will go forward and backwaor with high speed.
Re.1
13. Rokett 3
It was like a badminton shuttle cork. With plastic body with metal sort
of striker with a spring and a metal plate..
We used to place one round red cartridge underneath the metal striker.
We then throw the rocket up and then it will always come down with the heavier
side downward and once it hit the floor, it would burst with
the same sound as in the case of above gun or pistol.
15p for the rocket and 5 p for the box of say 50 individual round cartridges.
This item is no longer available now. This item was also available
at feast fair with ‘pernim’.
Do you remember any other type of ‘Gonnsa fog’
Note: Above serial nos also corresponds with items shown in the pic.
There are plenty of other latest ‘fog’ now available at the shops.
Gonnesh comes and Gonnes goes.
But every year, it does remind me of the lovely time I had those days.
Hanson-kellon sarlem mhojem Bhurgeponn
Moujem uddnam marun khuincheanuch soron gelem Nentteponn
Hem antam ailam tem maka bhemkddaunk, oi tem Zantteponn
Khuim maka porot mevot gai, mhoje Bhurgeponn?
Check my ‘Gonnsa Fog’ memory
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukextras/3869978145/sizes/l/
How to pronounce FOG in Gonnsa Fog
Pronounce Fo as in fô
Not as in fo-g (foggy/mist)
But as in Fo-to
Or try this
You bloody ‘Rogue’
Now try replacing R by F so as to make it Fogue
And that’s Fog.
Fresh ‘Gonnsa Neurio’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukextras/3876103010/
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