COMMENTS - Nov.03.

1. After reading Ramakrishnan`s 1944 kolu, for sometime, I was imagining Ramki and PCJ in Radha Krishna costume. I remember in my young days also, few K.Nagar kids used to come like that. NOW I see that in Podhigai TV only.

2. Vidya, Thankyou very much for your Diwali wishes . All of us send our best wishes to all of you on this occassion. Have a nice Diwali.

3. Akila: In general, what you have mentioned is the practice and I dont think I can add much.
But, as usual, my mind goes back to K.Nagar diwali.

As children, me, Lux,Lalli, Rama,Ashok, never used to even remember that new clothes are bought for diwali, but we will be eagerly waiting for crackers. On Diwali eve, around 7 PM, all of us used to sit in the hall with our own baskets and Ramakrishnan used to distribute the crackers to all of us, under the supervision of Kunjappa. We were not allowed to burst them that day.

Next day, early morning, after bath, Kunjappa used to sit in the verandah with big bottle of iodex, for any burn injury. Ramakrishnan used to burst our crackers one by one.

Then around 7 AM, all of us will sit and have the sweets and kaarams. Then, since Kunjappa was elder, most of the people used to come home and we used to do namaskaram.

It used to be lots of fun, ONLY because it was a joint family then and ALSO because, all people in all 22 houses in K.Nagar were known to each other. AND the joy of any occasion used to be shared.

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.

Ramu