Recreating the past to sensitise voters

A few streets at Paachal in Jolarpet had surprise visitors on Tuesday morning. After years, they were hearing an age-old greeting — ‘nalla kaalam porakudhu’ (good times are coming) — accompanied by the beats of the ‘udukkai’ (a percussion instrument) outside their homes.

Two ‘kudukudupai karans’ (soothsayers who herald good news) were going around the streets uttering their catchy phrase that many remembered since their childhood. There were two others. ‘Boom boom maadu’ (Oxen that nod their head at the instruction of their masters) — named Madhesh and Ezhumalayan — were decorated in colourful clothes. They walked around with their anklets jingling and their handlers playing the percussion instrument.