Grahanams and customs(kastams)...

I neither know the scientific theory nor the astrological theory about eclipses. All I know are the following:

1. I should not go out during “grahanam”
2. I should stop eating few hrs before “grahanam”
3. “Dharbam” to be put in water and food items
4. Once the “grahanam” is over, I need to take a bath with “durbham” water
5. I can eat only after the bath

And yesterday it was another “grahanam” day and had to go through the customs(kastams) once again since it was a holiday (Republic day). Let’s see what was waiting for me...

After finishing our cricket match, we dropped our usual plan of going to “Saravana Bhavan” for breakfast as we had to have early lunch. So I went home and had to settle with bread and jam in place of ghee roast and sambar :-( . I was told by mother that I need to finish lunch by 12.30 pm as the “grahanam” starts by 2.30 pm. Generally a late eater (1.30-1.45 pm) during holidays, had to reluctantly finish my lunch by 12.30. After surfing few TV channels, around 1.45 pm, I decided to take a nap as I had slight headache and was feeling very tired because of play. When I was actually settling down well, my mother woke me up around 3 pm and told that the “vathiyar” would reach shortly I need to get ready for “grahana tharpanam”. I respect our rituals a lot and above all my father. Hence, inspite of having a banging headache, I got ready after having a “head bath”. “Vathiyar” came around 3.30 pm and the ritual was over in 10 mins. My mother told that I need to take a “head bath” again after “grahanam” and “vathiyar” too emphasized the same and left. I strongly refused as my head was still banging and my mother was clearly not so happy. I was dying for a cup of coffee and some biscuits to eat but the “grahanam” is still on. I tied a cloth to my head and laid down silently in the sofa waiting for the “grahanam” to get over.

Atlast, I guess it was over by 4.30 pm and I got my cup of coffee and biscuits with a “disprin” around 4.45 pm. At that moment, my feeling was akin to that of Tom Hanks in the movie “Castaway” when he got his first light of fire…

"Kings" - The Unwritten Game

Even though I have been following quite a few of my friends / relatives blog, I never had the intention to write one. I have always been a silent observer and maybe this characteristic of mine pushed me back from writing a blog. Actually, there are no hard rules for writing a blog – It’s just a medium for penning down your thoughts / feelings / memories etc... So I thought it’s high time I should open my account and here I come with a blog about the good old game “Kings”. Don’t know what made me to choose this one. All I wanted to do was to take a light nostalgic topic which would make the reader to relate it with their childhood.

Am sure 15 years back, this would have definitely ranked in top five street games among the school-goers. Following are few reasons for its popularity:

1. Cost-effective: You just need a tennis ball (Usually would be the “Lotha” ball which is unusable for cricket). Can also be played with a rubber ball but its very risky especially if the “catcher” is your then rival.
2. No. of people: Even though, technically you can play with 3 people (One “catcher” and two “runners”), you need atleast 5-6 people for the game to be interesting. Another strongpoint is, there are no restrictions regarding the maximum of no. of people.
3. Late comer: If you are late, still you can join in the middle and don’t need to wait for the completion unlike other games with the condition that you would be the “catcher” for the next game.
4. Uncomplicated: Simple rules make the game easy to play and doesn’t warrant any special skill set. Hence it’s unisex game and can be played by everyone.

Let’s see how the game is played:

1. Lines would be drawn on both ends within a space of 18-20 feet. Only the “catcher” can cross the lines. “runners” can only hop (“nondi”)
2. A small circle with normally a diameter of 60-70 cms would be drawn. All the participants need to place their right foot on the end curves.
3. Without any prejudice, the ball is then made to be dropped in the middle of the circle; usually by the frontrunner of the group to decide the “catcher” {without creating any suspicion, the ball is dropped in such away targeting the rival(s)}
4. “Catcher” would be the person whose foot is kissed by the ball.
5. Once the “catcher” is decided, others would run like mad dogs and try to hide one behind the other.

Rules of the game:

1. The “catcher” has to start the game from the border line.
2. He can throw the ball only under-arm (No over-arm; Side-arm is allowed)
3. To make a person “out”, he has to hit any part on or below the knee-roll
4. If any one gets “out”, he has to join the “catcher” to catch others and he will be the “catcher” in the next game (sounds like some visu dialogue isn’t...)
5. The “catcher” can’t move while holding the ball on his hand.
6. “Runner” can catch the ball only with folded fingers. If caught normally, it’s out.
7. “Runner” can throw the ball or hit with his fist wherever he wants. But if the same is caught by a “catcher”, then he is out.
8. The “runner” can do all kinds of tricks to escape - Some of the popular moves would be to push a co-runner in the front, hide behind a heavy guy, kneeling down in the road to hide and rotate oneself in the direction of “catcher”etc...
9. In the end, the person uncaught would be the uncrowned “King”.

Even though reasons like growing traffic, narrowing of roads and increased no.of cars parked in street can be attributed for reduction in the level of street games, I think its more to do with the attitude, interest and comfort of today’s children. For me, its still one of my all time favourite game and if I get a chance, I would definitely play in my street, running and screaming like a small kid…

Prasanna