Ultsavam ( ഉല്‍ത്സവം )

Uma, today morning, called me. The usual chat ... and expressions of the goodness of the gone days ! Anyhow..... , it's all part of life. I think none of us should keep locked on to the past. Steer well off the course, and keep driving.... for better pastures... and life !
The point now is, Uma told me that she'll be attending the "Aaaraattu" (ആറാട്ട്‌) today in their nearby temple. Ultsavam there is from Meenam 1 to Meenam 7. Today being Meenam 7, its Aaraattu - the concluding festival.
Ultsavam .... it reminded me of my school days. Let me tell you some golden memoirs.
Ultsavams used to be an inspiration, and a celebration. Invariably, Ultsavams are during the summer exams (final exams) of the year. I remember, inspite of all the exams ( Exams were very serious affairs for me .. that's how I've been brought up), Ultsavams were celebrated. The celebration starts the day before Meenam 1. On that day, an elephant and a set of 'Melakkaar' (chenda, nagaswaram, .. gang) would arrive. The first and foremost pleasure was watching the elephant.. for long time.. may be for hours even..! I've been a kind of 'Kodiyettam Gopi' character those days.
The period I have enjoyed most were in my 9th and 10th standard days. Almost all evenings and nights, I used to be at the Temple campus ... watching Ultsavam. There used to be many programmes, ... Kathakali, Dance, Ottanthullal, Paattukatchery, Kathaprasangam, Harikatha, and so on... in addition to the Ezhunnellippu, and other processions and rituals.
Programmes like Kathakali, kathaprasangam, etc... used to start after 9 in the night, and would go for many hours. I used to be in the ultsavaparambu to watch all that. My mother, and some of the other family members and relatives too used to be there. I've been a permanent accompaniment to them (if the next day is not an exam day).
Being a 'paavam payyan', I was fortunate to be the accompaniment to many of the women in my family ( fairly large in strength) and relatives who are neighbors too. They took me to accompany them to go to the temple, and return home from the ultsavaparambu, whether during day or night. I remember, I've been accompanying Devechi and Chittamma to the temple (for kathakali or dance) after dinner, and return home late in the night after midnight. Though I myself was scared to move on the night, they were confident of having an "aanthuna".
The most interesting role I had during the programme time (night) , was going accompaniment to ladies and girls to the rear end of the 'ambalamuttam', beyond the 'chuttumathil'. I remember, that corner was not illuminated (but not too dark) but was poorly lit. This was intentional, as the women used to use this corner for pissing. During the programme, my mother or chittamma used to call me and ask me to accompany one or two of the other ladies or girls. I would go with them to that corner. i would stay a bit away, as the lady or girl would move a few feet away from me (as if I don't look at them). The lady would now lift her mundu, untie her thaar, and sit. Standing in a posture as if I am looking elsewhere, I was watching (through the corner of my eyes....) them. After pissing, she would get up, and redo her thaar. Some of them would look at me ( may be to check whether I am watching ) and then continue to tie up the thaar. She/they would return to me and I would follow them back to their seats.
This is done many times during the programme. Lady after lady... I've been entertained many times during the programme.

Angine rathriyil pala pennungalude thaar kaanaanulla bhagyam enikkundaayi. Ultsava divasangalilellaam ithu aavarthichirunnu. Kootinu pokuka ennathu ente oru sthiram joli aayi .
pakshe, njan pathaam classil aayappol, ithinu vithyaasam vannu. Devechi, chittamma, thudangi kurachu per maathram vuilikkum. jaan koode poyi maari nilkkum. pakshe, Devechi aanenkil njaan theerchayaayum nokki nilkkuka thanne cheyyum. Devechikku athu ishtamulla kaaryavumaayirunnu.
Ultsavam ennaal angine venamallo ... athoru aaghoshamanallo ... thaarukal kaanunna aaghosham !

{ അങ്ങിനെ രാത്രിയില്‍ പല പെണ്ണുങ്ങളുടെ താര്‍ കാണാനുള്ള ഭാഗ്യം എനിക്കുണ്ടായി. ഉല്‍ത്സവ ദിവസങ്ങളിലെല്ലാം ഇതു ആവര്‍ത്തിച്ചിരുന്നു. കൂടിനു പോകുക എന്നത് എന്റെ ഒരു സ്ഥിരം ജോലി ആയി .
പക്ഷെ, ഞാന്‍ പത്താം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ ആയപ്പോള്‍, ഇതിന് വിത്യാസം വന്നു. ടെവേച്ചി, ചിറ്റമ്മ, തുടങ്ങി കുറച്ചു പേര്‍ മാത്രം വ്‌ിളിക്കും. ഞാന്‍ കൂടെ പോയി മാറി നില്ക്കും. പക്ഷെ, ടെവേച്ചി ആണെന്കില്‍ ഞാന്‍ തീര്ച്ചയായും നോക്കി നില്‍ക്കുക തന്നെ ചെയ്യും. ടെവേചിക്ക് അത് ഇഷ്ടമുള്ള കാര്യവുമായിരുന്നു.
ഉല്‍ത്സവം എന്നാല്‍ അങ്ങിനെ വേണമല്ലോ ... അതൊരു ആഘോഷമാണല്ലോ ... താരുകള്‍ കാണുന്ന ആഘോഷം !}