The street in which i grew up......

The street in which i grew up......

The street had just about 25 houses, no traffic (bus or even cars) running in that street.

The street had just one row of houses; opposite row was the ruins of fort wall & 'அகழி' .

Every house had a vacant space in front for கோலம் (Kolam, Rangoli) .There were also trees and plants.. not many.. which meant there was sufficient place for the outdoor games that we used to play.

The tenant of each house was known as the மாமா, மாமி of the number of the house. So my father was 16-ம் நம்பர் மாமா (uncle of No. 16) and so on. I didn't know any maamaa or maami's name !! or we used to refer to them as the mother of so & so. -"சரோஜோவோட அம்மா, லக்ஷ்மியோட அம்மா" etc.

None of the tenants could be said to be rich. On the contrary, more on the poorer side if weighed by money. But things would be shared without any hesitation.

Navraathri சுண்டலுக்காக , கும்பலாக, வீடு வீடா போய், collection... we used to take turns for 9 days (few each day). We used to be anxious about what we going to get that day for eating !! The Maamis used to make a large quantity of Sundal for neivethyam keeping in mind the children crowd. No maami or maamaa had the slightest feeling, an iota of hesitation, in making & distributing. On the contrary, they will prepare somthing that will be liked by children.. even கடலை உருண்டை, தட்டை etc. for distribution apart from the regular neivedhyam. What ever one group brings for a day, will be shared by every child.