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Hey, am not trying to frighten you with a ‘mantra’ or something. Moreover the ‘abracadabra’ kind of thing doesnt work these days, many of my friends say.

These are just some words is Malayalam, which mean, “Hey, don’t give us change (read coins), give us notes”; and it has got something to do with New Year too. Hence the desire to share it with you all.

This post in fact is a continuation to my earlier post ‘So many Santas; what’s the deal?’. It’s about another ‘Santa’ experience, here in Kochi itself.

I had heard from friends that Kochiites celebrate New Year’s Eve in all grandeur and style.But I didn’t feel like joining any of these grand New Year Eve celebrations. In fact, I never ever had anything to do with those celebrations. I prefer to celebrate it all in peace, at home and among my near and dear ones.

So, at around 9.30 pm yesterday night, I was riding my bike to my house. As I was approaching my house, situated in the city suburbs, but with a semi-urban kind of culture, I came face to face with a group of teenagers singing songs, led by (oh no!) yet another Santa. Santa, and New Year!! Was a bit confused…but then I told myself that when it comes to celebrating, maybe it doesn’t matter.

But then on, it was Santa gangs one after the other. I met as many as five Santa gangs in one kilometre, most of them comprising of teenagers. At one place, I saw about 5 or 6 teenager guys walking up to a medical store that was beginning to close shutters, and standing in front of the counter and the very next minute breaking out into a loud ‘Jingle Jingle bells…’ with the accompaniment of some very fast dance steps, sort of bizzare ones indeed.

Hey, what do I hear. Something in Malayalam?! I prick my hears and there the young chaps are, singing, “Chillara venda Chillara Venda note edu Chettayi…”, in between the ‘Jingle Bells..” song, in the same tune. They were in fact telling the people in the medical store to give them notes and not coins.

Felt like laughing aloud, but didn’t, because that would attract their attention and their next target would be me. So I silently left the scene, wondering how money-minded even our kids have become these days.

The last ‘Santa gang’ that I came across before finally reaching home had the Santa dressed in a black pants and a red churidar top (these guys even beat those Santas in the nighties about whom I had mentioned in my earlier post) and with a plastic mask on his face.

Kochi is simply marvellous!Unpredictable!! Crazy!!!

Anyway, here’s a Happy New Year wish to everyone from the Karmakerala Kerala team…..