An Avurudu competition

Priyan woke up to the sound of the koha bird singing . It was Avurudu time and Priyan lingered in bed and thought of yesterday, the Avurudu day and all its activities. It was nice to hear the birds singing in his aunt’s garden in a large suburb of Colombo where Priyan was spending his April holidays. More so, Aunt’s son, his cousin, Lalin too was there.

Yesterday was full of Avurudu rituals with the lighting of the hearth at the auspicious time,
heating milk in a pot to flow over. Then, Maama read from the book of prayers and they
worshipped Lalin’s parents and grandma. They also ate kiribath, wearing the lucky avurudu colours and
looking in the correct direction. It was fun for the boys.

The exchange of gifts made the boys happy. Then, Nanda sprang a surprise and told them that she had hired a bike for Priyan as Lalin had his. That’s how, they both took part in the cycle race for Avurudu in the playing field of the area where there was much hustle and bustle. Raban players went on tapping the rabanas in a competition and all the avurudu games were in progress till late evening.

At the breakfast table, Nanda announced, "Today there will be a painting contest. Many children will come." Priyan and Lalin were pleasantly surprised. When Aunt went to the kitchen, Priyan asked Lalin, "Is it because she’s a teacher, Nanda is full of ideas?"

"Perhaps." Nanda came back. "Where will the contest be, Nanda?," asked Priyan. "It will be in my
garden in the afternoon. I’m getting some men to bring benches and desks. Will you boys help to bring some easels and chairs from the school?" "Of course," they both answered . "Lucky the school's
nearby," whispered Lalin to Priyan.

A little later, the garden was full of action. Four men were bringing benches and tables. The boys joined them to bring easels and chairs. Nanda got busy and placed the furniture under trees and in shady spots. She got Lalin and Priyan to get the paints and brushes out from her study, as well as, the art paper. The boys filled old jam tins with water and kept them ready with pieces of rags to wipe the brushes and water.

After a hurried lunch, the boys were on the verandah and the children came trouping in. The next door children, their friends, were there, two boys and a girl and some others they knew as well. Nanda got busy and showed each their place. When everyone was comfortable in their seats, Lalin and Priyan handed out the art material to them and took their places too. There were twenty children in all.
"Now children, all of you will start painting at 1.30 pm, that’s in five
minutes time and you will stop in three hours time."

She held up her hand to silence the chatter that began, in true teacher style. "The subjects for the paintings are, 'Avurudu games', 'Avurudu traditions' and 'Avurudu in the home'. The children got busy. Nanda walked in between the tables and easels. achchie too came and joined Nanda.
Then, they both went inside the house. It was very pleasant in the garden with a slight breeze blowing under the flowering trees of ehela and araliya.

Priyan spotted a favourite of his, a kingfisher and a little later, he spotted a golden oriole too. I know what I will do, Priyan told himself. I’ll put both these birds in my picture. The children worked like beavers. Nanda came back at 4pm and handed a light drink to the artists. At 4.30 pm she told the
children to stop painting and place their pictures on the floor of her verandah to dry. The
children rushed to do so.

Next, Nanda invited them to tea and they all trouped into the dining room where a sumptuous tea was laid out. There were all the Avurudu goodies as well as cakes and sandwiches. "Wow!" said both Lalin and Priyan, together. Nanda must have been truly busy. While the children tucked in with grandma waiting on them, Nanda was inspecting the paintings. It was easy as all were laid on the floor. After tea, Nanda asked the children to line up in rows under the porch.

"There are three winners," Nanda announced. ‘All the paintings are good. I’m very proud of all of you but I have to pick out three. Here, they are. I will show them one by one.""Here’s one with raban players. Ranjith, I like the little boy seated on top of the tree over the raban players. Here’s the next, a family going to temple, drawn very well by Shama. The other is a picture of a child worshipping his parents while the other children are waiting in line with betel leaves in their hands. Thank you Githa, it’s very good." The
children clapped.

She gave away their prizes wrapped in bright coloured paper. Knowing Nanda, Priyan knew that the gifts would be interesting ones. The children waited awhile, chatting to Lalin and Priyan. There were more drinks for them. Priyan showed Lalin his painting, he had placed the kingfisher and the golden oriole on top of two branches of trees at the two sides in a garden where figures were placing the rabana on top of brick stands . All in all, it was exciting for both of them. Lalin winked at Priyan and said, "Don’t know what Amma will cook up tomorrow?" They both laughed happily.