MAZHA MAZHA KUTAKUTA (part1) (RAIN RAIN UMBRELLA)
Dearfriends, I had been toOoty recently with all family members. Being non-season it was rainingoccasionally. We had our stay at Mahendra resorts there. Green and yellowalternated cloth umbrellas were given to us, as much we desired. Umbrellas would beeverywhere – in reception, in dining hall, near toilet and for all rooms inplenty with hanging area before the room. While we took tour by their vehiclein the vehicles too. An employ was solely on the lookout and rearrange theumbrellas in all locations. While we were on the way to Pykara falls the driverstopped the vehicle near a hill. He asked us to hold the umbrella open.Virtually we were pushed by the wind for meters by holding the open umbrella. Our weight was nothing for the pushingwind. Today I wasjust thinking of making a posting about umbrellas, immediately this incidentcame to my mind. The title is an advertisement heard long back in Radio from SaintJohn’s Umbrellas at Alleppy. Sincerely, GopalaKrishnan 4-8-2010. Reposted on 24-1-2021 after editing and updating. R.Gopala Krishnan. 1. Cheela kkuda (Umbrella using cloth) While I wasabout 5 years old I could recollect we were having umbrellas with black clothfitted on a framework, which can be opened and closed. Even on those days everyhome was having at least two umbrella. Umbrella was an identification mark for teachers. There were twotypes – One for the man with long handle and bigger in size. The handle had asmall half circle bend for convenience of holding. The ladies umbrella alwayswas smaller in size and has a decorated handle in tough glass. There was anattached cotton ring to handle for additional convenience of holding in ladiesumbrellas. These umbrellas were single folding type and the handle used to beof special quality wood like cane (chooral). The framework of the umbrellas wasof lightweight very thin quality iron rods with good strength. To hold it open a lever arrangement called“Kuthira” was there fitted to the handle. Similarly one for closing. When a personappears very thin he was called Kuda kampi. Malayalam actor “Indrans” used tobe called so even in films by others- Poda Kudakkampi. Brahminsinvariably used to have umbrellas. If one umbrella was not sufficient for somejourney with more members from a home, loaning from next home/ house wascommon. If the next home/ house is notready to spare invariably the reply was- the framework is under repair. Marriage parties onthose days would be having new umbrellas and prominent persons would be alwayshaving closed umbrellas with them. The shops willbe having spare standard size umbrella clothes for replacement of ladies andgents umbrellas and every stationary shop during rainy season will have in front of themumbrella repairing people. Frameworkrods used to be available as spare. I do recollect such wooden handle umbrellaswere common till 1979’s. Update- Repairing people have becomevery less now a days and umbrella has become a use and throw item though arecostly. On those dayswe could never see a lady walking with gent’s umbrella or the other way. Evenmale boys would carry only male umbrella. Ladies umbrella was part and parcel and monopoly of womenand ladies. I am not sure why such a taboo was there for umbrella. If a lady woreblouse black in colour people used to remark- stitched using umbrella cloth? Also thick blouse clothes werereferred to the thickness of umbrella cloth. 1. 1 Kilichiundan mampazham When thoughtof umbrella repairer immediately what comes to my mind is the real acting ofMohanlal as the repairer and coming to see his lover Late Soundarya who wascompulsorily married to Sreenivasan in the film Kilichundan Mampazham. 2. Olakkuda (Palm leaf umbrella) On those daysOlakkuda was also somewhat common. The framework and handle were of cane wood.Palm leaf in two or three layers well attached over the frame and ends toostitched with bended cane. Olakkuda usedto be in different sizes. Nampoothiri women used to come out only with smallpalm umbrella covering head and face as a custom called Marakkuda. Invariablywe could see the Panan in Vadakkan pattukal appear with palm leaf umbrella. There are manylegends where the Devi/Lord follows Nampoothiries in their palm leaf umbrellasto their residence. Legends of Mookambikai temple, Chottanikkarai Devi templeand Tiruvambadi Lord Krishna temple are a few examples.Normally theambalavasi varier women come with palm umbrella only to the temple. Theumbrella of the varier was identification he is very well available. Whensreebali is going on during Utsavam (Temple festival) varier used to keep theumbrella by the side of Kuthuvilakku so that lamp would not be blown out bywind and slight drizzling would not affect the burning lamp. 2.1 Olakkuda during sreebali Duringsreebali, Palm leaf umbrella is/ used to be held behind the Utsavamoorthy inKerala temples. Invariably it was assigned to a Brahmin family. This is calledKudayeduppu. Manytemples the kudayeduppu has stopped due to non-availability of Brahmins for thejob. I have seen it still continuing in Kollur Mookambikai templeduring my recent visits also. 2.3 Nampoohiri and Olakkuda There is aninteresting legend of Nampoothiri holding the Olakkuda handle and travelling bybus. It was the time buses operated with coal and steam engine. Olakkudabecause of its size could not be taken inside by Nampoothiri. Nampoothirithought for a while. He called his sevakan sankaran and asked to hold thehandle the palm top outside. Nampoothiri smiled at the conductor. Driver came toNampoothiri and asked – Ennal Adiyen sakatam Uruttattae? (Shall I drive thebus?). Nampoothirireplied “Uruttikkolu, Uruttikkolu (OK Drive, Drive). Going half way againnampoothiri was put in dilemma. He called conductor. Enganaya Kuda thazhevizhathae Eranguka? (How to get down without falling the umbrella?) Conductor said“Adiyen sahayikkam (I would help). Where Nampoothiri had to get down conductorhold the palm leaf top. Sevakan Sankaran first got down and hold the umbrella. Nampoothiri gotdown and took the umbrella from sevakan. Nampoothiri thought for a while and said- suddam poyalum Kudaikkonuum ayilla. (Thoughsuddam gone, kuda is saved). 2.4 Ola kkuda in Trissur pooram I have writtenalready in my Nostalgia about Trichur pooram Kudamattam has started while Paramekkvu hasraised a few cloth umbrellas supplied secretly by a Brahmin during a pooram,suddenly Tiruvampadi side went to thestreet and procured a few Olakkuda and raised. 2.5 Olakkuda without handle. (Palm leaf umbrellawithout handle and bottom a cap) The Olakkudawith a cap arrangement is used by farmers holding it on the head. The advantageis both the hands are free. It help them from sun and rain. 2.6 Plantain leaf in place of umbrella If umbrella isnot available well grown banana leaf is used to shield the head from rain byvillagers from rain. This practice is still available in rural area amongworkers. 2.7 The girl and umbrella Probably mostof us may be knowing this legend. But for youngsters I am repeating. There wasa hot summer in a village. They used to pray to local deity in batches of a fewhouses for rain. On a day theturn of a particular house came. Everybody prepared to go to the temple. Nonehad umbrella. The small girl asked – why none of us is taking umbrella? Theelders replied- Hurry up child. Before the hot sun we can return back. No umbrella necessary. The childagain told to Elders “I am asking not to shield from hot sun but from the rain.If we sincerely pray rain would occur and we require umbrellas while returning.The elders got ashamed of their thinking and took umbrellas. I willcontinue with umbrella in next part. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/292308180.1112155.1611473722424%40mail.yahoo.com.
