MAZHA MAZHA KUTA KUTA2 (RAIN RAIN UMBRELLA2) Respectedfriends,
This is part 2and final part of the posting Mazha Mazha Kuta Kuta. Sincerely, Gopala Krishnan 4-8-2010 Reposted on 25-1-2021after editing and updating. R. Gopala Krishnan. 3. Umbrella for all occasions Umbrella isnot only used for protection from rain and heat. It is also used for festivalsand picnics. Festival umbrellas are used by all-important religions likeHinduism, Christianity and Islam. If we go in and around Kottayam, Christiansdominated area in Kerala, we can see boards – Church umbrellas for sale. Theseare all coloured bigger umbrellas and totally for festivity. It may beprotecting from sun, but not from rain. Drizzling may spoil the attractiveclothing. Kudamattamduring Trichur pooram I have already mentioned once. Now a day there are morethan 200 to 300 sets of umbrellas changed on either side. For all churchfestivals and Muslim festivals also these types of umbrellas are used. Thereare shops that rent out these umbrellas in Kerala. Most of these festive umbrellas are assembled inTrichur. I have used the term assembled because; parts are made toorder in Tamilnadu mostly. These umbrellas have long and thick handle and weighalso about 5-7 Kg. Picnic andgarden umbrellas are sturdy and they can protect at least 4 people. It is acommon scene of such umbrellas on beach resorts and star hotels. Wayside Shoppyumbrellas are very similar to picnic umbrellas. This is used for way sideshopping. It is a new marketing technique. It is a common scene telecomfacility, water purifier etc. marketed along city roads under shoppingumbrellas. 4. Development of umbrella patterns A gradualdevelopment suited to time is happening for umbrellas. Today there is nodifference between gents and ladies umbrellas. The protective clothing haschanged from cotton to other synthetic materials, which will not only absorb water, but will spill out whilefalling. Today we cannot see wooden handled umbrellas for daily use.Materials for frame and handle have changed to glittering lightweight steel. Ladies use two fold umbrellas,which can be kept in Hand, bag it. One fold umbrella is handier. Hand bendumbrellas are available for those who require. In Kerala most of the umbrellasare assembled in Alleppy. I think in Madurai also umbrellas are assembled. Oncethe stag brand umbrellas were popular for gents and ladies. Bombay also hasmany production units of umbrellas. 4.1 China made umbrellas Today inChennai most of the shops are having China made umbrellas. Though fancy andserve the purpose, they are not sturdy. Umbrellas are available from the rangeof Rs 150-00 to 500-00 depend on the quality. 5. Umbrella and Brahmin functions During Kasiyathra associated with marriage umbrella is a must item. Normally black clothedumbrellas are preferred for the occasion. While the bridegroom start for higherstudies the would be father in law stops and offer his virgin girl and desire him to takegrihastha life. 6. Umbrella allergy and liking There are twogroups of people- while onegroup has allergy to take umbrella, the second group find it essential to stepout of house. I am in the first group and my wife essentially in 2ndgroup. So she is the custodian of umbrellas in my house. While I go out ifumbrella become absolutely necessary I keep the one kept in my hand bag. Recently oncewhen I go out there was no rain, but later developed to heavy rain. In Chennaiduring rain umbrellas are taken out and sold outside the shop in the street. Ipurchased a new quality one for Rs 200-00. While I reached home the expectedwords were there from my wife- all umbrellas are damaged, it is nice you purchaseda new one. 7. Umbrella as walking stick Umbrellashaving handle to the size of walking stick are used by many elders whilewalking since the purpose of walking stick is also served. 8. Holding umbrellas in the midnight (Ardharathrikku Kuda pidikkuka) There is aproverb in Malayalam- Alpanu panam vannal ardha rathrikkum kuda pidikkum (The onesuddenly become rich, would hold umbrella in the midnight also.) This mean asuddenly become rich will show all pop without knowing usage. I am having afriend Mr. Ramesan pillai (Name changed and told) at Trivandrum. His brother wasrunning cashew business. Suddenly there was more profit. He purchased a newmaruti 800 and a mobile. (Mobile was just getting introduced) One day he wasgoing with his wife to Quilon in the car. They reached a bridge and it wasabout to rain with a wind. Thislady took the mobile and called my friend Ramesan Pillai- She told “Chetta,jangal valiya palathila. Chettanu kekkunundo? Mobilenu rangekurava. Bhayangara mazhayum kattuma. Vandi odikkan pattunnilla. Avidenganna?” (Brother inlaw, we are in the bigger bridge. We are talking from a lesser range areathrough mobile. Are you hearing? We are not able to drive. Here it is heavyrain now. How is there?) Ramesan Pillaiused to narrate this incident and laugh about their false prestige and pridewhen we two together were in Calicut as Divisional engineers. In fact there was norain or wind – his brother told later! 9. Use and through technology? Before 4-5years I used to repair our umbrellas. The charges were about 15-00 rupees for anormal repair. Now I find it is better to discard while one or two damagesoccur to umbrella than repairing. In cities during rainy season umbrella repairpeople appear suddenly like mush room. Many combine chappal repair and umbrellarepair together. In places like Kerala still repairman is common due to frequentand heavy rain. In Tamilnadu we can see 70% of people use umbrella only duringwinter. Only a mere 30% use in summer. 10 Sun allergy Persons whohave sun allergy are advised to take umbrella while sunshine. Their skin colourmay change if strong sunlight falls for a long time and itching would start. 11. Holding umbrellas I have takenthis topic for specific reasons. While a father and child go together childcannot hold umbrella. Only father has to hold to keep the height. While ridingbikes and cycles it is dangerous to hold umbrella in one had and drive. It is equally danger the pilliondriver hold the umbrella. While VIPsmove it is customary to hold umbrella for them by their staff while it israining or hot sun. It can be either a Political leader or a Collector or aMinister or a Religious leader or a famous film star or director. 12. Rain coat and Sun cap For those whocannot hold umbrellas there is raincoat and sun cap. The woolen cap in Ooty Ifelt very convenient for the rain since slight drizzling will be taken care ofby it. I felt it as a remedy for my umbrella allergy. But either coat with capor cap cannot replace umbrella, they could be substitute. 13. Kuda poyal kudathilum Thappnam If umbrella ismisplaced it should be searched in the pot also. I see some body raising theireyebrow- is it not Kuntham (Spears)and not kuda? Yes- either kuntham or kuda- a lengthy object. This means a thoroughsearch is required when something is misplaced. Our brain has a peculiarnature. It would suspect certain areas and not certain areas. If another personsearch those places missed item would be there. Update-Now we have umbrellas which can belocated if misplaced using smart phone. It is not available in Chennai as Iunderstand. 14. Bharya It was aninteresting film in Malayalam screened in 1960’s I think based on real love episode of an already marriedand father of two kids tutorial college lecturer with a student coming to thetutorial at Tiruvalla.Late Sathyan appeared on silver screen as lecturer and LateRagini as his wife and Rajasree as the student on whom Sathyan fell on love.Recollecting the enjoyed married life before the incident Ragini sings- Pandokkae Jangal orukudakkeezhilae Palliyil Pokarullu. (We used to goto church only with single umbrella.) In Kerala Christian woman used to go tochurch only with umbrella and bible. 15 Epic reference Vamana moorthyappears before Mahabali with Umbrellafor three feet earth as Danam. This is the earliest epic reference coming to mymind. 16. Complimenting umbrella In ourreligious samskaras like shashtipoorthi, sathabhishekam, and first sraadhamKuta Danam is a must item. While youngsters now a day coming from foreigncountries compliment umbrellas also to their relatives, MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOTMADE IN CHINA. Or else the next moment the receiving person will retardtelling it is locally procured and given. 17. Umbrella Marts Once thepriority was such that umbrella marts were there. They sold umbrella only. Nowthey sell boxes and similar items also. In Trivandram there is Chellam Umbrella mart,a famous shop for box items than umbrellas. Now in all supermarkets a sectionis there for umbrellas. In fancy and Novelty stores varieties of umbrellas aresold. Footwear shops also sell umbrellas. Another is koyikkal umbrellas. Once therewere stationary shops selling all such items. Now it has become paper andstationary, which include all computer items, and children school items. 18. CTO experience I concludethis posting with an interesting episode from my life. I was in Madras CTOduring 1966 for a short while working as clerk. We had to keep the umbrella inthe entrance with security and he would give a token and he will keep it in anapartment. We have to get back on leaving presenting the token. Without knowing the arrangement I took theumbrella inside. Seeing the water dropping my head clerk told me there is anarrangement in the entrance to keep the umbrella. Faithfully I kept the umbrella going back to the entrance.For weeks I forgot about the token and umbrella. One day just like adream it came to my mind to collect the umbrella. The securityafter about 15 minutes search somehow got the umbrella. Thank you for yourpatient reading. -- 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/1049822728.3934806.1611560210819%40mail.yahoo.com.
