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| Sunday, 18 April 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Betel mania strikes the Aluth Avurudda Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake The Aluth Avurudu celebrations this year had a different touch about it. Those who promised people the rare and uncertain pleasure of being able to have green kiribath for the traditional first meal of the New Year, were themselves unable to find the proper green colouring for their kiribath. The person who made the green kiribath promise, that vulgar voice from Hanguranketha, had gone off to Australia to enjoy the New Year there, with or without any kiribath. At thousands of other homes the people enjoyed making the traditional kiribath, with the dish being nicely patted into shape with a warm betel leaf. At all these homes the "bulath heppuva" (or "ilath thattuva" as it is called in some areas) on which the betel leaves are kept, had a special pride of place at this years festive table. To add to the pleasure at most of these homes was the fact that the auspicious colour for the New Year dress being red. Last minute shoppers, whether at the House of Fashion, and so many other places that claim to have the latest in wear for men and women, as well as pavement hawkers saw a huge demand for clothes in red, the brighter the better. Betel sellers had a great season with most people buying more than the usual single sheaf of betel, but several. The young ones in many homes had done special decorations with betel leaves, not seen before, which were seen as a sign both of victory and success for the future. No one bothered about the betel leaf being green. The important thing was that it was a symbol of goodwill, greeting, and massive success. With all this excitement and celebratory mood, the anticipated jubilance of the Aluth Avurudu celebrations was muted to some extent. The reason was that the four reds and their deputies had not yet taken their oaths as ministers in the Government of the new Betel Leaf Alliance. The red shirts who won handsomely bringing in thousands of votes for both the red and blue types with the betel leaf symbol, were seeing a little more of the blue to their liking. But one can't keep the spirit of the New Year down with things like that, can you? They all joined in the celebrations, including the various traditional games. In keeping with the advice from the highest, those who were the winners in the recent betel elephant contest had made it a point to invite the green elephant neighbours for the Avurudu Festival. They could partake in any of the events, and soon they gave up being shy at having to accept betel leaves as a form of greeting, which was the traditional way to be received with respect. The first event was climbing the greasy pole. The green elephants were shy to participate but they were urged on by their neighbours and could not refuse. A few of them plucked up enough courage, removed their shirts and began the climb. They were cheered on from the start, but could hardly go halfway up the greasy pole before slipping down. Not any of the green participants could go beyond the halfway mark. When it came to the turn of the betel boys, some dressed in complete red and others in blue and red, there was even more cheering. No one expected this to be a contest between those who formed a single team. But as the climbing got under way, there were signs of some type of intra-team competition taking place. Those in blue & red started the climb. Many of them found it hard to get to the top. When this was seen by those attired in red alone, some of them began a swift climb up and pushed several blue and red boys right to the top. There was huge applause all round for the team spirit. However, when it was the turn of those in red only to climb, although the climbers showed they could do it by themselves, some of the blues insisted on helping them on. One good turn deserves another, they said. But the red climbers realized that as each one approached the top of the greasy pole, the one in blue who was supposed to push him to top, was instead trying to pull him down. The pull down efforts failed and they reached the top anyway, to great applause from the crowd present. The people had seen what was happening on the greasy pole and began telling the blues they should not have done such an unsporting thing. But their only answer was that they liked the reds very much, and needed them for all future contests, but could not give them all the plums, even though they may deserve them. The matter was settled there with sheaves of betel being given to each participant, and the winners being garlanded with betel leaves. There was great fun in the raban playing contest, as young women with their lips red with betel chew instead of lipstick, playing the traditional rhythms from the past, and some even playing some new rhythms, showing that raban playing need not be a dying skill but one that could be very innovative too. When it came to the coconut scraping competition, many of the women who participated made fun of the price of coconuts, and almost taunted both the red and blue types there to bring the price of the nuts down as soon as possible. They made fun in return saying the constitution had to be amended first to bring the price of coconuts down, because the constitution was a nutty thing. The reds team won both the pillow fight and striking the milk pot blindfolded. The next item was the "onchili vaarana", young girls riding the swing singing traditional verses. As they were warming up, for the event, everyone was surprised by the sight of some Buddhist monks coming over to the festival grounds. The girls got down from the swing. The people began to worship the monks at their feet. The raban playing stopped. The monk who was in the lead told the people to get on with their fun. "We did not come to spoil your fun and enjoyment. We only came to watch. After all, we are also part of the community and must not keep aloof from what the people do. So enjoy yourselves." But the people could not do that. They were not used to such things. The elders soon discussed matters with the youth. They decided it was best to offer betel to the monks. Some white sheets were brought to cover the chairs for the monks to be seated on, and one of the elders invited the monks to give them some words of guidance in good living in the New Year. Away in the East, there was another celebration going on. The Vanni tigers were having their own celebrations. The Avurudu War Games they had started had resulted in the defeat of the Karuna Tigers from the East. It was only after the defeat that Karuna learnt that it was not just a war game as earlier indicated by the commander from the Vanni, but a real battle. He was soon in flight, hoping to be greeted with betel by the Government forces. But the government forces had received no orders to that effect, neither had they received any consignment of betel leaves for fleeing tigers of either stripe, whether Vanni or Batti. The betel trade is flourishing just now. Sheaves of betel are being bought in heaps to greet the new ministers as they arrive at their offices to assume duties. One after the other government officers, heads of corporations, and several hangers on looking for special positions, push through the throng around the new minister to offer him or her a sheaf of betel. It is boom time in the garland business too. There are garlands being purchased in all areas to greet the new ministers and deputies as they come to their districts and electorates, and even to their homes. Some ministers feel suffocated by all the garlands round their necks. But that is a price they are always ready to pay for power. The difference is that some of the garlands this time are of betel leaves and not flowers. That makes them think of the tasks that lie ahead, giving them a tinge of worry. But here is no time for such worries, there are more sheaves of betel and still more garlands. Photographers from newspapers and TV camera crews will be really busy the next few days, showing all these new ministers and their deputies too, taking over duties. It is as if a minister assuming duties is something strange and newsworthy. But ministers and their deputies want the people to see them assume duties, whether they will perform their duties well or not. At Seenu Nivasa, the head office of the red-shirted bell boys who paved the way for the success of the betel brigades, there is some concern as to what is really in store for them. Will it be a case of taking to the streets again, this time with betel leaves in their hands? The Aluth Avurudda does not seem to portend much good for them, on present indications. In any event the "bulath heppuva" in their office also has its own load of festive betel leaves too. They will wait and see. |
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