From: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Chenappady (Was Re: Malayalam Books in the U.S.)
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:04:26 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Followup-To: alt.culture.kerala
Organization: GE Research



>>>Is this the Chenappady near Manimala, Joseph? It is too fond a place to me.
>
>>   Of course it is ! There is and can be no other Chenappady in the world !!
>
>Where is Chenappady, Manimala etc..?  Here I am sitting with my trusted
>"A Road guide to Kerala; A part of the Discover India Series" map of
>Kerala, and I cannot for the life of me find where either of those
>places are.

   Chenappady is in Kottayam district.  nearest places of any significance
   are kanjirappally (7km) and erumely (5km).

   Erumely is somewhat well-known among pilgrims to SABARIMALA.  Many of
   of the pilgrims go to Erumely also, for the "paetta-kettu".  In the good old
   days, when pilgrims used to walk all the way to Sabarimala, there was a
   short-cut thru chenappady.  Lately, since most people make the pilgrimage
   in buses or cars, (and since chenappady is virtually inaccessible by
   any automobile) the pilgrims no longer pass thru chenappady.  But for old
   times' sake, the AYYAPPA SEVA SANGHAM still sets up their "panthal"
   during the Sabarimala season, even though there aren't many pilgrims to
   served to.

   Couple of years back, when I was home for a vacation, one day the person
   who was manning the Ayyappa Seva Sangham panthal came running to my home,
   almost out of breath.

   "Entha Ponnukutta, enthu patti ?", I asked him.

   "You have to come to the city right away.  There are a bunch of people
   who got lost on their way to Sabarimala and we need to tell them how
   to get to Erumely"

   "So you tell them how to. Why me ?"

   "They are from Bangalore or Puna or something.  They don't speak Malayalam.
   You have to talk to them in English."

   So Ponnukuttan and I trekked our way back to the city and to the panthal.
   Sure enough, there were two cars (impossible as it might seem, 
   considering how difficult it is for cars to get to Chenappady )
   parked right there in the city, by the panthal.  And there were probably
   a dozen or so Pilgrims, surrounded by about 50 or so curious onlookers.

   As Ponnukuttan and I waded towards the "foreigners", the crowd parted
   to make way for us.  When I was close enough to them I asked them (in
   English, of course) what the problem was.  One of the them explained to
   me pretty much what Ponnukuttan told me - that they got lost and wanted
   to know how to get to Erumely.

   I chatted with them for about half an hour, putting on my best American
   accent for the benfit of my adoring fellow villagers. The Seva Sangham
   offered them soda narangaa vellam and stuff and sent them on their way.
   That was THE major event in chenappady for that week.

   Later on, while we stood around talking, I overheard one of the
   guys explaining the events to a passerby. "they ask something in english.
   and he replies in even better english.... Nalla pachavellom  polallae
   englishu parrayunnathu..."


   peace and quiet, and don't forget to stay cool....

   james joseph                        joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala