Summer in Tamil Nadu is no longer associated with holidays and mangoes alone. Rising heatwaves, intense coastal humidity, shrinking green cover and burgeoning concrete structures have turned the season into a period of discomfort and health concerns for people. Also the trapped heat across the city is causing heat exhaustion and heatstroke and disrupting daily life making Chennaiites see summer with growing dislike.
This columnist who had been to her cousin’s place in Besant Nagar a few days ago was surprised to find her aged aunt enjoying playing Thayam, one of TN’s most popular and indigenous games which emphasizes math, strategy and agility. She spent some time playing the game with her, reliving memories of her summer vacations from decades ago. Games like Thayam and Pallanguzhi passed down through generations still remain popular in houses with grandparents. During the month-long summer vacations of those days, this columnist would stay at her grandfather’s home in Tindivanam. Playing Nondi, Kallangal and Kannamoochi, trying her hand in bambaram (spinning top) and spending hours chatting with friends there, was the summer bliss she looked forward to every year.
And now, as she looks out from her flat window in Chennai, she sees children playing board games, cricket and chatting with friends. For them too, summer is about vacations and fun, much like it was for this columnist years ago. The only difference is that most of them no longer play the indigenous games that once defined childhood summers. Also, summers then meant devouring ripe juicy mangoes whole instead of eating chopped pieces.
This columnist is also reminded of William Shakespeare’s play Midsummer Night’s Dream that continues to charm audiences across generations through theatre, literature and film adaptations. Back home, movies like Meiyazhagan, Kalavani, Vaagai Soodava, Paiyya and Katrathu Tamil were successful because of their association with summer. And the song Veyilodu Vilaiyadi Veyilodu Uravaadi Veyilodu Mallu Katti Aattam Pottoamae from the movie, Veyil, captured the quintessential TN summer in all its vibrant colours.
While Agni Natchathiram ended on Thursday, the continuing heat till June-end is enough to trigger nostalgic and random memories of summers gone by.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
