Of spouses pawned, Falling Sarongs and Pillow Fights

M. V. Muhsin

There was a time in the hallowed history of ancient Ceylon when Cock-fighting was a major attraction of New Year festivities. In those contests, the story goes, contestants would stake their fortunes some betting their (or rather their wife's) gold and silver; some in moments of desperation their lands, and others in exasperation even their spouses! No wonder that cock fighting was banned at one time!

"Pora-Pol gahima" - or bowling of coconuts - was another exciting feature of New Year celebrations, often played between two sections of the village where spectators and supporters were known, again, to bet heavily. Then there was "An-keliya" or Hook Hugging - a game where two sections of the village took part.

The 'An' or 'hook' is made from strong timber and the game takes the form of tug-of-war causing much excitement and provoking cheers, jeers and ....laughter as, to the anxious expectation of the cheering crowds, some sarongs would fall!. Against such nostalgic narratives, this then is the week when the heady vapours of our feats in cricket should rightly be displaced by traditional games that give character to the fun and frolic that is part of New Year celebrations. Yes, these are the times when the rich spread of Kavun, Kokis and Kiribath, Wadai and Murukku are consumed - not to forget a swig of "Pol Arrack" or "Toddy" - accompanied by the reverberating rhythm of the "rabanas" played by beautiful village damsels. One would see teams seated on mats pitted against each other in the game of "Panchi". It went something like this: seven sea shells (Panchis) with lead filled at the bottom to maintain weight and balance, they are rolled like dice from a cleaned coconut shell. The number of shells that fall with the lead up is what counts.

Each side would have four markers ("Iththas"). These markers would advance on a ladder-like Chart (Panchi Petha) depending on the number of qualifying shells. The Iththas would travel in opposite directions

to enable one team to capture the Iththas of the opposing team and get first to the winning post at the top of the Chart. The team that loses, as per the rules, is obliged to host the other team to a treat! My friends in Jaffna would gather at the playgrounds to witness the "Poorthangai" contests as part of the festivities there. While the crowds were munching Murkku and Ariatharan (sweets) cart loads of coconuts (Thengai) would be hauled into the grounds in bullock carts (Matuwandi). Young men would compete to hurl coconuts at those thrownby others and see who would best succeed in smashing open the coconuts thrown by the competitor.

Emotions would run high as the physical abilities, nerves and sinews were on display and...put to test. These were occasions, if not fertile ground, for the Jaffna beauties, with glints in their eyes, to spot and marvel at the strength of the young lads in this "nut cracking" exploit to herald the Tamil New Year. I know of at least two marriages that could trace their links to Poorthangai!

If one indulges in such nostalgia it's pardonable. These were joyous occasions where the charm of village life of old makes the mind to naturally wander to the playing fields in the hamlets where simple amusements and games give expression to festivities.

What pleasures were derived in those childhood days with such unsophisticated traditional games that were all part of the fare that went with New Year celebrations. There was "Gudu" and "Elle" - two very popular games that provided as much excitement as any game of cricket or rounders would.

"Coconut Scraping" contests were conducted for village women. "Olinda keliya" - an indoor game played on a hollow board with small red seeds of the olinda creeper - was an absorbing recreation and almost a monopoly of the women. Bola-keliya - a game played with marbles - was reserved for the little boys.No festival celebration -even to this day-is without a Marathon or an Obstacle race. Pillow fights were also popular. And of course, climbing the greasy pole always provided the feverish climax.

Traditional games in ancient times were known to have taken a more dramatic turn and found popular flavour. Bull and Buffalo fights were also in vogue and the animals with sharpened horns were allowed to fight, which would be revolting to our Animal Rights activists! In medieval times even elephant fights were organized in specially constructed stockades. Here two elephants were brought into the enclosure. If they do not fight a gay female of the species is placed between them. Then overtaken by jealousy and sexual desire they would begin fighting.

An extreme form of the 'sport' was the combat between two wild herds from different regions of the country. A vivid description of an elephant fight that took place in 1883 goes as follows:

"They advance into the centre of the square and join in battle seizing each other's trunks, striking with trunks and feet and beating with the heads and tusks - some became weaker and ran away only to be chased and attacked brutally by the others..."

Thank heavens that traditional games in our time are a far cry from those of the blood curdling past. Although with each passing generation there is the danger of traditions and customs being eroded, it's heartening to see that communities throughout the country still value the charm and grandeur of sporting events during the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year festivities.

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