Gone are the days when it was all about feasting one's eyes on a platter full of all things nice first thing in the morning followed by a purifying bath, slipping into new silk clothes and catching up with relatives for a festive lunch. Is `kaineettam' the only custom that youngsters of today find time for given their hectic academic schedules?
When family get together
Atul's classmate Deepesh Varma, a native of Kannur says his family manages to retain the celebratory ambience of the occasion. For him and his family Vishu is more important than Onam. All his relatives be they in Chennai or Trichi, make it a point to make it to their ancestral home by Vishu. For him, this festival is the best time of the year as it also coincides with the temple festivals and it's also when the `theyyam' season begins. The day, he says starts with the usual rituals like `kani,' after which they are gifted new set of clothes and a coin each. He and his cousins then head to the houses of various relatives nearby.
"That's when we get more `kaineettam.' Next stop-the temple grounds where the stalls are, so that we can splurge what we got. There was a time when, as little children the question that did the rounds amongst us used to be, "Whom all did you get it from?" whereas now it's, "How much did you get?" Yes, I guess times have changed!" he concurs when asked if he feels Vishu is still what it used to be.
Anagha K. A. says this is the time when she makes the most money. "Being the youngest in the family everyone gives me more than the rest as `kaineettam,' which adds up to about 500-700 rupees! " she says.
Krishna Mani celebrated his first Vishu in India this year. A student at Trivandrum International School, when it was dirhams last years, it is rupees this year. His parents however always add a coin to the sum so that it becomes an odd number. He is annoyed however that his sister gets more money than he.
However, though it's mainly about money, there are youngsters like Reetha B.J. who like the festival for the fact that relatives gather and feast on the day.
Says Professor Vijayabalan, retired principal of the Law Academy, "In my days, on Vishu morning all the members of the house, from the oldest to the youngest gathered to see the `Kani' and then lined up in front of the senior member of the house to receive his blessings and a coin as a token of that blessing. The coin could be gold, silver or bronze. What mattered was the blessing. Some of us treasured the coin for a while before trading it for a taste of candy or ice cream. Today children are raised in nuclear families where the parents can afford to give their kids more than coins as `kaineettam.' Family members are also less in number." He however points out that times are changing and everything is gradually being replaced, often overlooking the sanctity and relevance of the occasion. Plastic flowers and plastic plantain leaves are now available for the `kanni' arrangement.
The true meaning of an occasion does lie in its customs, each one signifying the tradition of a rich past. So next year make sure your children celebrate the occasion and not just the money.
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