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We need to have some interesting questions from the write-up. Then we can create the picture of beauty for you.
Joseph and David
December 22: Madras
We slept well last night.; My mom bought a few clothing and jewelry for her friends.; We went to the church office to see how the office is set-up.We went and repacked our things.; We packed our things to be taken to Bangalore and then packed our things to go to Sivakasi. We got the overnight train to Madurai.; Same old freezer-conditioned coach again!; From Madurai, we will go to Sivakasi.
December 23: Madurai (temple city) and Sivakasi
KKP uncle (His name is Karunakarapandian; we have abbreviated it to KKP) was waiting for us. We went to his house and met Shaym aunty and Bala. After breakfast, we hired a card with a driver and went to Sivakasi to spend time with my grandma. As we entered the area of Sivakasi, one can smell the sulfur! Sivakasi produces more than 90 percent of matches (matchboxes) and fireworks for the entire country and for export.; In addition, litho and printing presses are every where. This is quite an industrial town. My mom tells me that they used to call it “Little Japan”.; One the fireworks owners went to Japan and was amazed at the industrial development and hence the he started calling Sivakasi, “Little Japan.”; There is no need for beggars in this town as there is plenty of work through cottage industries.
Making match boxes that contain matches, making the boxes that contain sparklers, and arranging the sticks on the frames before the frames are dipped with chemicals are all done in houses by housewives and children (after school). Sivakasi is an interesting town. However, our meeting with grandma was not very pleasant in the beginning.;
The house was empty without my grandpa’s voice.; He passed away in June. In fact, we made this trip so that we can be of comfort to grandma during Christmas.; After a few minutes, we went with rose garlands and candles to grandpa’s grave. Mom was very upset.; All the villagers (our relatives in neighboring villages started pouring in to inquire of my mom and dad about grandpa and mourn for grandpa’s death.
This is a custom. We fed every one who came. As mom was not interested in cooking for hundreds of people, dad bought the food for every visitor (a kind of catering service). Some people were given money for food. My grandpa was generous man and was interested in feeding others. Things were done in his memory.
My grandpa's grave is not built yet. Until then, it is just whitewashed. Because of the soil condition, they will build it only after a year. (lots of pictures on the web)
Joseph and David
KIDPROJ WWW Contact: Diane Smith, Internet Facilitator, Kent Learning Center, Seattle, WA, USA, Homepage: http://www.halcyon.com/maywood
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