The nine days of Dussera festivities herald simple pujas at home, more elaborate ones at temples, dandiya nights, kolu with beautiful old wooden bommais, bhajans and, of course, good food. Navaratri is special and I remember being invited to homes and being coaxed to sing ‘just one line’ in the presence of elders and the carefully prepared and temptingly laid out neivedhiam.
I also remember the whole ritual of seeing off guests with the thamboolam bag. I can’t help but think of the ubiquitous manjapai that was such a part and parcel of my parents’ generation. My uncle Ravi, said that this manjapai had all but disappeared from urban use and was replaced by bags that matched each individual’s taste and ability to spend.
Traditionally the thamboolam bag carried within it betel leaf and areca nut offered to guests after a meal or around the time of their departure. It aided digestion after a heavy feast and left the mouth refreshed and also signified that the guest was well looked after. Over time, the Thamboolam grew to include the coconut, bananas, turmeric and vermillion powders. The coconut is thought to represent poorna phala or fulfilment of wishes and the bananas signify prosperity. The manjal and kungumam are also auspicious items.
Swarna Reddy t akes immense joy in choosing her thamboolam bags every year. She thinks of the women whom she invites and selects bags in vibrant colours that will appeal to them. Another dear family friend, Rajam aunty, talks nostalgically about receiving thamboolams every year as a child when living in the agraharam . She says it was a practice within the Brahmin community to invite young girls every day for nine days and offer them clothes, fruits and other auspicious gifts to celebrate the girl child and pay obeisance to the warrior (shakti) in her. All the girls would look forward to this and wear pretty pavadai chattais and simple jewellery.
While the manjapai may not be to everyone’s taste, there are cloth bags available today made out of scraps of brocade, jute, gada and more to suit every budget, embellished appropriately for the occasion and are extremely versatile for re-use. My mother’s friend now uses a thamboolam gift bag as a stylish potli .
Many of these bags are made and sold by organisations that educate children coming from dysfunctional homes, destitute women and homeless adolescents. They are not only taught to create but are also made aware of the value of their handcraft, which adds to their sense of self esteem. Jaishree Ravi (Seva Nilayam) says it’s heartening to see young children take pride in making these bags and coming up with the different designs. Buying thamboolam bags from such NGOs add something special to the festive spirit.
My uncle’s home always holds a special place in my Navaratri experience. I will never forget the bag he once sourced from an NGO in Mumbai. The handles were fashioned to look like strands of jasmine. I always carry that bag when I wear my kanjeevarams. While fancy bags may have replaced the manjapai and sticker bindis the traditional vermilion powder, there is still so much more to the thamboolam than what meets the eye.
Grab a bag
Seva Nilayam: Cost between ₹20 and ₹40 per bag. Call Vijayalakshmi at 9994249661
Bio Basics: Cost of ₹23 per bag. Call 9677640246, 9677610246
Shraddha Trust (online): Cost between ₹200 and ₹500 per bag. Visit www.shraddhamumbai.org or email scharitabletrust@gmail.com
Amrit Centre for Special Needs: Bags on order. Call 0422-2441902
