History behind the success of the event
After the cremation of our beloved Peroorkada Amma (who was closely associated with Puthenparambil family) available members of Puthenparambil family gathered and before departing Sivadas put forward a question “Why not a gathering of Puthenparambil family ?”.
After the Sanchayana function a draft of the programme was prepared by Gopinath and presented before the available members. Suggestion came from all corners. During financial involment discussion not to tax elderly people and not to collect more than Rs. 3,000 per family and to ensure financial participation of NRI families. No committee was constituted but members came forward ( Babu, Rajeev, Sivadas, Gopinath and Prakash ) voluntarily for executing the function taking responsibilities, knowing it was a herculian task considering the limitation of time and money..
Gopinath, Sivadas and Rajeev visited the site and found that site is ideal for a river eco-friendly tourism well within the financial limits. Committee members gathered in Ernakulam and discussed in detail and given the final shape for the notice.
From then onwards it was in rocket speed that the things were progressed and communication through mail media by Prakash ( an unique blog with daily bulletins intimating the progress of the arrangements to all. Vishnu voluntarily took the task of directory with mother Geetha’s assistance. The missing details were collected by Ranjini and later made in to a book form in SN Press,Aluva. Vishnu also agreed to give a photo session for recollecting sweet memories of the events of Puthenparambil family and also for a photo quiz. But unfortunately due to certain unavoidable constraints only Ormaputhukkal took place and we can expect the missed items in the next session.
Prasad even though he was not physically present helped a lot in preparing computerized forms for various forms in addition to his financial support. He made the draft of programme brochure which was later modified and printed by Vishnu. In the same way concept Padippura for memento was initially put forward by Gopinath shaped by Rajeev and later designed & developed by Prakash and his friend Sudheesh from Erode.
Procurement of materials and presents required for the function was purchased by Rajeev and Gopinath. Light and Sound system was hired by Sivadas from Kottayam. Ponnada was purchased from Erode for honouring the elders by Prakash.
Abhilash, Aji, Aneesh, Bipin, Manju & Manoj started their moral support and tried their best for physical participation. Only Bipin was able to travel all the way from Germany to take part in the event
Bipin came forward for the video and still photograph documentation in DVD form. Bijula came forward with family quiz, Dr.Suma with best couple selection and Dhananjay for electronic thambola. Kuriachan took the responsibility of the mass transportation arrangement for the the members from South of Kottayam.
Sponsors of the Event
The first person who came forward for sponsorship was TK Prasad – Rs 1,000 ( towards prizes )
Meera Prasad donated (towards gifts) - Rs 1,000
Ranjini sponsored Ponnada - Rs. 2,500
PS Padmini sponsored toward prizes - Rs. 1500
Sumangala sponsored - Rs. 1,000
Raghavan sponsored - Rs. 1,000
Vishnu sponsored expense of invitation letter
Anup given his Own Designed Export Quality T-Shirt for the meet
TP Gopinath Sponsored prizes for all participants of Tug of war (ladies and Gents) and also arranged sponsored prizes from Parthas and HDFC and also managed to get concessional rate for the Richmont Resort.
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Commentary of the Mega Event at “Nani Sankara Nagar”
Gopinath family, Mani family from Vazhakulam, Suma family reached first by 1 pm, Kannadi Amma with Babu family reached a littile later. They had their food and started decorating the hall, by the time, Raghavan family, Raji family, Prakash family & Sivadas family reached the Resort.
People from Trivandrum came by a bus a little late (3pm). Radha with Sreejitha family came after that. All had lunch and everybody occupied the cottages as per the allocation.
Kuriachan in bikini jumped in to the river like a muttand ( “Kannine kayam kanikkale “ Pazhayavar Paranjittundu, Gopi then Commented).
Due to unavoidable reasons Sasi and Padmam came very late. Viswanath and family were eagerly waiting for participation, but due to medical reason the meet missed them. Sreejith was not able to participate because for the illness of his child. Ambli too on unavoidable official ground. Certain constraints prevented Meera, Anup and Ajay form coming.
Out door games for children started first and then for boys & girls and for ladies and couples followed. Most of the people participated in the games and it was a good start.
Then “vashiyeriya Vadam valli” . South of Kottayam VS North of Kottayam.
In the Ladies session North won ( with Radha Falling ha ha ha !!!! No injury ).
In the nail biting finish Gents Vadam valli was won by South amidst cheers from the ladies in best of three ( first two was consecutively won by South ).
The prizes - Pazhakkula for gents and manga uppilittathu for ladies were sponsored by Gopinath.
In the tea break Thankamm’s vattayappam, Leela’s Aval Vilayichathu and Rajatha’s Kumaranellor Payasam was distributed and with the nostalgia of Chakkara Achan and Chakkara Amma, every one enjoyed the deliciousness.
The evening session was started with a short welcome address explaining the traditional and sacred atmosphere of the Puthenparambil tharavad by Gopinath.
Chief Patron P. S. Raghavan lighted the lamp ( Bhadradeepam ) with the banging of crackers in the background. After that Raghavan had a talk remembering all the 9 deceased ones of the family and greeting all the other from Kannadi Amma To Goutham - Four generations !!!!. All the older generation joined in lighting the lamp.
Next was the time for sensational event of Orma Puthukkal. When Gopinath announced the names of the demised elders, along with the visual media and explained who they were gave youngsters a clear picture. Kunjappi Achari, Nanikkutty, Raghavan Achari, Kesavan Achari, Pennamma, Sankaran Kutty, N.Gopinathan Achari, Sreedharan and TP Ravindran –nine stars were lighted behind the stage as the symbolic representation of them making a feel of the presence of their souls. All members stood for a moment may be more then that and paid their homage.
Rajasekharan released the Phone Directory and the Memento giving it to Raghavan. Later it was distributed to all family by Ranjini.
Honoring was the next item for –
1. The persons who have completed Saptathi
( Parukkutty, Sumangala, Raghavan Allykutty, Rajasekhar, Padmini, Leelavathy and Radha) with Ponnada ( Honoured by Sivadas, Kuriachan, Subhash and Shaji – the young in-laws of second generation )
Mangala Ganam by Dr. Kunjuraman and an Orma Puthukkal from his days of association with the family. It was full of fun and thamassa . He mentioned some of the facts connected with every persons who completed sapthathy. (poem will put in the blog soon )
2. Persons who completed Shastipurthy
( Dr. Kunjiraman, Indira, Viswanathan<Chandrika (in-law Gayathri accepted the ponnada for them)Chandrasekhar, Gopinath and Geetha) were called on to the dais by Prakash and ponnada was given by Ganesh, Sujith and Karun (still younger third generation of in-laws).
Mangala Ganam was sung by DR. Vijayalakshmi. It was tuned by herself for this special occasion. (poem will put in the blog soon )
3. National level achievements
Dr. Kunjiraman for M.Ch(USA) by Sumangala.
Dr. PR Indiradevi for Plastic Surgery ( Occuloplasty, Liecester University ) by Sumangala.
Dr.Deepa for Phd in Duration analysis and modeling for text to speech synthesis in Malayalam (Kerala University) by Raghvan.
Remya Prabha for I.E.S by Allykutty.
Sivadas forVasturatna award from Jyothisha Prachara Sabha by Rajasekhar
4. State Level Achievements
Chandrika Devi for Best teacher award by Radha (it was received by Chandrika’s grand daughter on her absence) .
Brindafor being the first motor vehicle inspector by Padmini.
Prakash for Cycling from Kasergodu to Trivandrum in 8 days by Leelavathy.
Subhash for 1st rank in the B.Arch. Exam of Kerala University
Anup for 1st rank in Diploma in Knitting Technology( received by his mother on his absence) by Radha.
Reshma for being the Kala Thilakam in Rhyadh.
Kannadi Amma’s Birthday was celebrated with the cutting of cake. Aparna & Rachu made manjnu mazha ,all greeted her( some with presents). Rithvic played the Birthday song in Guitar.
Prakash recited his poem which was written in the greeting card made by Ranjini
For a girl young at 93
What shall I give?
Kisses a thousand , of love and reverence.
One thousand One hundred and Eleven (1111) crescent moons smiled by you,
For shouldering the younger ones yours
From bud to flowers;
Flowers of fragrance, decades back.
Energy yours,
Energy yours still inspires us
Like an elixir fills our souls.
May another one hundred crescent moons be lucky to greet you again
With lots of love
Prakash-Ranjini
And also from “Ranjana”
Chiristmas was celebrated with Wine distribution and children enjoyed the spectacular colours of lighted Kambithiri.
Indoor Fancy Games followed. All members were sitting in an oval shape for the function.
Of the fancy games first item was passing the gift. Members passed three gifts in the clockwise direction when there was the music played. The gifts got for those who have it with them when the music stopped .It was really a new type of game which everybody enjoyed and tried to keep it with them for a moment to got stop of the music.Lucky ones got the gifts.
American auction for five materials- Yardley powder, spray, gel, conditioner & refreshner-with the help of two set of cards. One set was purchased by 52 people for rupee 10 each, the other set of cards was called out and the lucky one could take the interested gifts.But if it was wanted by some other one it should be given. It was really vashieriya funny moments….Yardley powder and gel passed through many hands and the game finished when all the cards were called out. Here also the lucky ones got their favourite gifts.
Then fixing the price of the Saree and the shirt took place. Kavitha fixing of saree’s price was almost to the real cost and Geetha fixed the price of the shirt exactly.Well appreciated by the organizing committee!
Reshma got prize in predicting the no.of chocolates.
Then Best mother-in-law, Best daughter-in-law selection happened. Leelavathy got more points for the mother-in-law contest and Laly and Jayasree were selected as the best daughter-in-laws.
Then we started our dinner since it became so late for having dinner.
Family & Kusruthi quiz was conducted during dinner.it was very interesting and also informative for the younger generation.
After dinner cultural programmes started.
Story telling by Abjith, Ananthakrishnan.
Karthu and Pavi sung a song
Bipin’s poem was tuned and sung by lali and brinda (poem will put in the blog soon ).
Rechu and chinnu danced ( Dappan koothu ) gopi , vijayam, Suma and Archana too joined them at times.
Duet was sung by Kavitha , Vishnu (ponne nee….)
Abjith danced in rhythm with a song - not pre-planned or rehearsed!!!!
Sumangla sung her own lyrics in the style of Oottan Thullal. Then a Vanchi Pattu – lyrics was about Puthenparambil family, written and tuned by herself and which was sung by Brinda , Lali & Kavitha (poem will put in the blog soon ).
Solo songs were sung by Vijayalakshmi, Ranjini, Radha & Shaji. Brinda gave a visual effect to Vijayalakshmi’s song. (Priyathama…..priyathama….)
Ranjini brought a nostalgic feel of our family house and that place. (ONV’s oruvattomkoodiyen ormakal meyyunna thrumuttathethuvan moham….).
Radha’s song was old and golden…….Shaji’s song was very nice and wonderful.
Vishnu & Ganesh sung –“ullassaputhirikal kannilaninjavalle” literally an ullassapputhiri for every body
Padmini recited one of ONV’s Poem with an emotional introductory speech about our Puthenparambil Veedu and also remembering and refering Ranjini’s song oruvattam kudien ormakal meyunna thirumuttathetthuvan moham…..
Kavitha & Brinda sung a song vaisakha sandhye….
Bimals performed a majic show with a splendid professional touch along with the assistance of Dhanya and Gangan. Audience were all dumbfounded
Sivadas did a Velichappadu Thullal covering whole space in rhythm with a nadan pattu. He took blessings from older generation and gave blessings to younger generation. Organising Committee walas and Ranjini joined him which was enjoyed by every one and all encouraged them with hurrahs and Laughter.
Then Reshma danced - Ek do theen char panch chhey sath – Organising Committee walas put more spice in to it by joining her. Her performance was marvellous!!!.
Song from Ranjana – a nadan pattu -nine kanan ennekkalaum chantham thonnum kunjipenne….. ( Ranjini – with chorus Rajatha ,Lakshmi, Lakshna, Raji, Rhytha, Prakash and also Anitha )
Kozhi kambil koruthu kondu stagil ninnum Committee Walas ellavareyum invite cheythu kondu camp firelekku poyi - “oru adivasi stylode” . Athu valare rasakaramaya nimishangalayoirunnu. Athu pinne chuttu thinnu.
It really was very very tasty and with good flavour. Even now our mouth is watering.
Then we had anthakshari South vs North. Gopi & Sivadas being the judges and finally it ended in a tie. It was mixed up with kocchu kochu thammiladi ,thamassa – full of fun. None wished to retire for the day but was forced to go for a sleep by 2 pm
19th dec 2010
All woke up after sunrise only and had sunbath with single tea.Then Babu came first for samuha kuly in a different style……. Thorthu mulakkachhaketti with a soap in his hand and posed for a photo…….it was just like an advertisement for soap……..A good snap as taken by Prakash with his mobile camera. Almost all enjoyed the common bath in the shallow river. Children enjoyed river bath with a crocodile (Ranjini).This samuhakkuly came to an end only by 9.30 am.
BY 9.30 we had Appam and motta curry. It was nice appam but gravy finished when the last ones came. They got only the eggs.
After breakfast rest of the indoor games were conducted.
Lucky person of the day- Rhytha choosed by appunni in a lucky dip.
Best couple contest took place in which couples were asked to fill up a questioneare supervised and conducted by Dr,suma Kumari. Sivadas –Rajatha were selected as the best couple. They hurrayed when result was published. Later Dr.kunjhiraman’s and indira’s viruddha answers were read out just for a fun by Gopinath and Brinda.
Padmini was honoured for conducting a 5 day exhibition for her art and craft works. This was requested by Rajasekher and some others supported it.
Prizes for the games were given by P.S.Raghavan. Almost all family got prizes in any one or another.
Auction of the hoarding of photo Chakkara Achan &Chakkara Amma was conducted (Cycle Yagnakkkar’s Auction).
It was a vashiyeria auction coming as south Vs north conducted by Prakash ,Sivadas,Dr.Kunjhiraman etc.. Radha, Rajasekhar ,Bipin and Babu took active participation and at last Babu got the priced hoarding. With the Auctioners Hammer banging the rostrum at a bid of Rs 1,370. .
Last item was Thambola -Brinda got Rs.50 for jaldhi five. Brinda again got Rs.100 for one line completion. Bijula Rs.100 for second line and, Radha got Rs.100 for the other line and finally Bijula completed full housee and won Rs. 200.
Only one person outside from the family was Varkala Ponnamma, who participated in the family meet. She was given a memento for her presence in the meet..
Every body enjoyed every moment of the maiden family meet of ours with great happiness and enthusiasm still persists…………..
