"FUNNY BUSINESS KOLUPPADI KITTA Krishnamoorthy, affection- ately called kitta by elders and kkittu mama by the women folk, is a retired drawing master of the Board High School in Salem. Fair complexioned, tall and well built with @ well knot greying tuft, Kitta is always found with a smile in his spotless white dhoti and Jubba. Kitta is a pious and reli- gious person who adoms three stripes of ash on his forehead with matching bloodred verrmilion from the Ganesh temple in his cow, Lakshmi, a wheatish jercy cow without a hump. He always takes special care in feeding his cow and bathing it every Friday. Tt is a common practice to offer puja to the cow on Fridays and Kitta’s wife Mangalam and two daughters join him in this sched- ule Kitta is very popular in Salem town, as he served for nearly four decades in the local Board High School and has a score of stu- Illuminated palace on the eve of Dasara in Mysore Agraharam where he dwells Kitta owns his house, a typical street house, stretching from one ‘street to the other. All the houses in the agraharam have standard grilled gate in the front and an ‘open courtyard in the back. Most of them rear milching cows and it is a common sight to find the ‘cowheard visiting these houses in the early hours and evenings for milking. Kitta is very fond of his dents. He spends his retired life in visiting temples and organising ‘rangoli’ display during festive occassion. The local ladies club took keen interest in conducting ‘rangoli’ competition and kitta is always the master of ceremony at such programs, Kitta drew differ- ent sketches for ‘rangoli’ and pass it on to the girls in the locality. Kitta is in great demand during the tainil month “Margazi’, when the courtyard of every house is ‘adorned with well designed “rangoli’ and decorated with flow- ers. Kitta is also well versed in handicrafts, making dolls and paper flowers, Persuaded by the elders and with the enthusiasm shown by girls, ktta started regu- lar classes in the evenings charg- ing only towards the cost of ma- terial used. Kitta’s school became very popular and the Ladies club came forward giving their pre- mises to conduct classes. There is more enthusiasm and hectic activity by his students as well elderly ladies before the com- mencement of “Navaratri” festi- val commonly called Dasara or Durga pooja. In the south it is a celebration in every house, and in particular in the Agraharam, to display clay dolls of Gods and other figures painted in attractive colours, with special lighting and decoration. There is competition in arranging miniature models of a village, a railway station, temple complex etc., Each household will stretch its imagination to include even items like space launching. Everyone will strive to exhibit their skill in preparing the mod- els making use of waste plastic and cardboard material. As usual kitta will volunteer to extend his helping hand in preparing the ‘models as well in fixing the dis- play stands called “koluppadi”, over which a white cloth, nor- mally the dhoti available at home, is spread before exhibiting the dolls. Kitta is always thrilled of his contribution in this festive program, but alas poor kitta is deprived of his spotless white dhoties during the ‘Navarathri’ festival as he is to sacrifice the same for the “koluppadi” at home, e