A guest post by Janaki Menon on the legacy of memories and keeping generations in the family connected.
NOTE: Jaanu is dear friend, philosopher and guide. Our friendship has remained steadfast through the years and will continue to. Here, she reminisces about her childhood in Kerala with her large, wonderful, extended family. Thanks, Janaki, for this post and hope you write more for this blog. – Sukanya
The legacy of memories—keeping generations in the family connected.
Memories of my childhood always revolve around the magical vacations spent at my grandmother’s traditional house in a small town called Irinjalakuda in Kerala. Back then,in the 60s and 70s, it was The Only holiday destination for us – and the most treasured. It was a joyous bonding of our large family – grandmothers, uncles, aunts and cousins – while savoring the myriad sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of the countryside.
My grandmother’s house was popularly known as kovilakam or “palace” because my grandfather, who belonged to the Royal Family of Cochin, had rebuilt the house with the facade of a Kerala palace. Every part of the house filled us with pride, wonder and excitement – the stately gates, the arched foyer with two cement ‘thrones’, the inviting verandahs, the two huge ponds, and the lush green grounds. The annexes around the main house – the madapalli (a separate building housing the traditional kitchen/dining); the kayyala or large open shed with low walls which became a hub of activity during the harvest season; the huge wooden ara or storehouse for rice; the row of utility and storage rooms – all of them became our favourite hangouts
The house would take on a festive mood with noisy children scrambling around and relaxed mothers catching up on gossip. The madapalli would be on overdrive. Our grandmother, the matriarch, would be ready for us, having stocked the pantry with our favorite chips, pickles, and jams. Tins of snacks, sweets and savories would be securely stored in locked cupboards.
The trees dotting the grounds would be heavily laden with delicious ripe fruits ready to be picked – jackfruit, varieties of mangoes, pimento, jamuns (Indian blueberry), rose apples (chaambakka), lichees, cashew… an endless variety to feast on!
For us city-bred children, it was thrilling to roam the grounds every morning picking up fallen cashews and mangoes while enjoying the sights and sounds of little birds, butterflies and insects. Humming birds, cuckoos, mynahs, seven sisters, kingfishers, woodpeckers, dragon flies, and sparrows all added to the magic of the place. It was fun watching the ‘touch-me-nots’ wither at our touch; tasting the nectar in the banana flowers and tasting the nectar in them; plucking thaali leaves off the fence to prepare our shampoo. There was so much to do from dawn to dusk
Bath time meant long hours of luxuriant soaking and splashing around in the pond. The pond was curtained off with thick foliage. The ladies and children would head to the pond for their bath after breakfast. The maids would keep ready grandma’s special aromatic herbal oils, organic loofahs and herbs for shampooing. The children would splash around with towels round their waists or thrill when they successfully caught little fish with their towels. The older girls would learn to swim using coconut buoys and safely float the length and breadth of the pond. Our aunts amazed us with their dives and strokes. The boisterous, noisy, long bath sessions of the men and boys followed and we would be allowed to watch them competing to dive and somersault in the water.
This was followed by our daily visit to the ancestral home or tharavad – the ancestral home of aristocratic families in Kerala – next door where the matriarchs stayed. As we remember it, it was an all-women household – our blind great grandmother living with her daughters and grandchildren. Our favourite grandmother, a passionate and tireless raconteur, would leave all her chores to regale us with stories of princes, ogres, gods and fairies. Each story, very detailed and filled with imagery, would last hours or even stretch for days. This priceless and unique experience remains fresh in our minds even today.
Lunch was a noisy affair – steaming hot food served on rows upon rows of banana leaves placed on the floor. We ate sitting cross-legged legged in front of our banana leaf “plates”. The food was simple, traditional fare – hand-pounded red rice, spicy curries made of veggies from the kitchen garden and of course pappadam and buttermilk. Organic vegetables and cooking in firewood made even the simplest dishes special. It was a tasty and divine experience.
After lunch, we would all assemble for a riotous session of cards or dice. Card games were usually rummy or donkey and the traditional chukkuni or the pakida kali dice game for four, with specially made brass dice that clanged when rolled. Emotions and decibels ran high as the games got intense. To add to the mood, plates of mango, jack fruit or cashew nuts would be passed around and promptly devoured.
Most evenings were spent outdoors on the swings or roaming the grounds. Sometimes, uncles would teach us to make toys from coconut leaves to play with. It was a thrill for us to successfully create wrist watches, balls, snakes and even a sewing machine of sorts with baby coconuts that would stitch leaves!
At dusk, it was a ritual to have a quick dip in the pond and light the lamp at the sarpa kaavu, the sacred grove for the family’s snake god followed b a lazy stroll in groups to the Hanuman temple in the neighbourhood.The special prasad of vada and sweet poha and coconut mixture was an added attraction
After an early dinner, the family would again assemble on the verandah and relax while the talented kids would entertain us with songs or mimicry or even skits complete with costumes and props. Sleep time meant a scramble for the best bedding or pillow as rows of grass mats were laid out on the floor in the huge hall. Sadistic cousins would narrate ghost stories that kept us terrified all night. The scrambling of civet cats, croaking toads and shrieking of night birds added to the general spooky feeling.
Visiting and revisiting these childhood memories always buoys my spirits. It is the legacy of these memories that continue to keep the bonding through three generations of our family alive and thriving.
Good news! Watch out for Part 2 of Jaanu’s memories of ‘Ende Keralam’!
Comments (22)
Wow, what wonderful memories to have! The meals, the card games, the pond…gives a real flavor, along with the photos, of the beautiful setting and happy atmosphere.
A thoroughly enjoyable read as it brought back scores of memories of my childhood visit to my great grandmothers Theravaad in Puthiamgham,
In Palghat , Kerala.
Brought back nostalgic memories. Lovely
Excellent narrative. Went down the memory lane . Lot of good memories of those years flashed by
Excellent Janu.I enjoyed reading , taking me back to the good old days at kolom and veedu
Loved it .carrying me down the memories of good old days of kolom ,veedu .ammumma , valiamma. Etc etc…..waiting for the next part 2
I absolutely enjoyed working on this post with Jaanu, reading it, and publishing it. We’re working on Part 2 and it is even more enjoyable than Part 1.
What a beautiful writeup. Brought back vivid memories of our trips to visit our grandparents. Continue writing, Janu. You have the gift.
Very nice narrative and beautifully written. My mom who belongs to the same ‘kovilakam’ referred here, used to tell me these stories of the fun times they had, when the cousins meet up during vacations. Waiting for the second part
A walk down memory lane for all the Cherusius cousins. It was a flashback of our childhood vacations. Reading the blog took me to those beautiful, fun filled days at kolovom. Could actually visualise those memorable days through your narrative .
Super! I am able to visualise similar memories we had nearby location ! Almost similar however personally since my childhood was in Village, love with Pond was a regular affair. I used to go with Achan to Ambalakkulam for taking bath .. During Vaccation all the cousins used to visit the beautiful beaches and used to take bath in the evening there too….
Beautifully written. Brought back memories of when we went to Irinjalakuda every summer during school vacation. Enjoyed reading it.
Wow Janaki..what an amazingly entertaining read. You captured the essence of childhood innocence & adventure of a bygone era. The practice of spending vacations together as part of extended families is dying. Then food & comfort was secondary. It was all the fun & activities that were more important. Congratulations on starting this blog & looking forward to Part 2.
Good Morning
I am Thillai,Anil’s Friend and Classmate.
It becomes a habit for me to go through WhatsApp,When I get up . ( Though it is not a Good Habit) But I only look for some unusual posts or posts from unusual persons, not the regular ‘good mornings’ or boring forwards !.
Today’s was from Anil’s, who forwarded this post.. it is a Great writing by his Sister. She vividly described the happenings from dawn to dusk and beyond also. She even remembered the minutest things.
I could enjoy each and every word imaging my child hood village surroundings. Every thing was described with an apt adjectives – Huge pond, lush green grounds,arched foyer , inviting Verandahs etc.
Even she remembered small things like wrist watches made of Coconut leaves, experience of touching ‘ touch me nots’ (in Tamil Thotta sinungi- தொட்டா சினுங்கி) . One man is missing – her Grand Father!
I think she brought out her part(girls) of story. If Anil writes he can bring out his part ( boys) of story. He is also a Good writer and photographer.
This write up Made my Morning a Good one.
Thanks to Anil and his Sister Janaki.
Brilliantly portrayed. My mom who belongs to ‘kovilakam’ referred here used to tell me these stories of the vacation days when the cousins meet up and aboit the wonderful time they had
Wonderful write up. Took us through a nostalgic journey which the kids nowadays can only dream of.
Superb Janu Chechi👌♥️👏👍🌟 Such an affectionate recollection, you definitely have a flair for writing – can’t wait for Part 2 🤩💖
Jana, loved reading it! You transported me to Kerala . Keep writing and connect us to basic joys of living!
What nostalgic memories of times spent with grandparents come back reading this post! Love the way you have brought back to life those happy memories. I love the fact you are documenting those days which many of our children will never experience. Continue writing Jana.
Opened the floodgate of memories. Kolvom, kayyala,padipura, hanuman temple,chira… …all rushed into the mind,not to speak of the army of characters who enriched our Nadavarambu vacations. I feel blessed to have enjoyed those days. Thanks Janu,for stirring up the golden memories. Waiting for the subsequent parts.
Janu an absolute delight…..a wonderful read!condensed perfecly&interestingly keeping the essence intact !i’m sure this will surely enrich the memories of all the family members irrespective of age .with much enthusiasm waiting for the 2nd part
Janu an absolute delight…. ..a wonderful read!condensed perfectly&interestingly,keeping the essence intact!i’m sure this will surely enrich the memories of all our family members of all age group