Kozhukattai Story
Posted by ammupatti on November 30, 2008
One day Patti was making kozhukkattais. When she had made the upma and made nice round balls of kozhukkattais and put them to be steamed, there came the ambe, ambe, sound of Patti’s favourite cow, Komu. Komu was just returning after grazing in the the forest for the whole day and now she needed water and Kanji. Patti went to the backyard and allowed Komu into the cowshed and tied her to her post. She then gave Komu her water and Kanji. After talking to her for sometime (yes, Patti used to talk to Komu, as if she were her child or friend) Patti went inside. She opened the pot to see if the Kozhukkattais were done and found that they were not yet properly cooked.
So Patti asked, “Kozhukkattai, Kozhukkattai, aen veakalai?” (Hello Kozhukkattai, why are you not cooked yet)
To which Kozhukkattai replied, “Adupperiyalai, Naan veakalai.” (the stove was not lit, so I am not cooked)
So Patti asked the stove, “Aduppe, Aduppe, aen Eriyalai?” (Oh stove, why were you not burning?)p
The stove said, “Veragu vaikkalai, Naan eriyalai.” (Nobody kept firewood, so I did not burn)
Patti turned to her daughter-in-law, “Mattuponne, Mattuponne, aen veragu vaikkalai?” (Oh dear daughter-in-law, why did you not put firewood in the stove?)
Daughter-in-law answered, “Kozhandai azhudduthu, Naan veragu vaikkalai.” (The baby was crying, so I did not put firewood)
Patti cooed to the baby, “Kozhande, Kozhande, een azhuthai?” (Oh my dear child, why did you cry)
The baby wept, “Erumbu kadichuthu, Naan azhuthen.” (Ants bit me so I cried)
Patti approached the ant, “Erumbe, Erumbe, een kadichai” (Oh ant, why did you bite the baby?)
Erumbu said, “En pothukulle kale pottal naan kadikathiruppeno” (Will I not bite if somebody put their foot into the ant-hill?)
P.S. Many of these stories would appear to end abruptly. This is a story said in a sing song way and the verses are in rhymes. At the end of the story, the child is tickled in its foot with the verse, ”En pothukulle kale pottal naan kadikathiruppeno.” So the story ends there. It is also meant to teach the children not to play with ant-hills, which were plenty those days.
This entry was posted on November 30, 2008 at 11:06 am and is filed under Animal Stories, Ant Stories, Cow Stories, Village Tales. Tagged: ants, cows, daughter in law, grandchild, kozhukattai story, mother in law, patti. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
JK said
Very interesting story. I appreciate your efforts to share these stories.
Cheers!!
Nirmala said
Excellent story and very gripping for the kids. I really really appreciate all your efforts sharing these stories on this website. Very valuable!
Thanks so much !
nirmala
ammupatti said
HI JK and Nirmala
I am glad you liked the story. I shall post more stories, when time permits.
Regards
Narayan said
There is an extended version of thsi sing song story. the first 2 or three lines remain the same and so do the last 2.
May I?
“Kozhukkattai, Kozhukkattai, aen veakalai?” (Hello Kozhukkattai, why are you not cooked yet)
To which Kozhukkattai replied, “Adupperiyalai, Naan veakalai.” (the stove was not lit, so I am not cooked)
So Paati asked the stove, “Aduppe, Aduppe, aen Eriyalai?” (Oh stove, why were you not burning?)
The stove said, “Veragu nenanjadu, Naan eriyalai.” (the firewood was wet, so I did not burn)
Paati now turned to the firewood and asked, “Veragu, Veragu, aen nenanjai?” (Oh Firewood, why did you get wet?)
the firewood replied, “Mazhai penjadu, naan nenanjen.” (It rained, and so I got wet).
Paati turned to the rain and questioned, “Mazhaye, Mazhaye, aen penjaay?” (Rain O Rain, why did you pour?)
The rain replied, “Pullu mollakkya, naan paenjen.” (for the grass to grow, I rained).
Paati now looked down at the grass and asked, “Pullae, Pullae, aen mollachaay?” (Grass O Grass, why did you grow?)
The grass looked up and replied, “Maadu thinga, naan mollachaen.” (To feed the cow, i grew).
Paati turned her attention to her cow and queried, “Maadae, Maadae, aen thinnae?” (Cow O Cow, why did you feed?)
The cow mooed back, “Paal karakka, naan thinnaen.” (To give milk, I fed)
Paati now qustioned the milk, “Paalae, Paalae, aen karandhaai?” (Milk O Milk, why did you “milk”?)
The milk promptly replied, “Kozhandhai azhuthathu, naan karandaen.” (The child cried, that’s why i “milked”)
Paati looked at the crying child and asked, “Kozhandhai, Kozhandhai, aen azhuthaae?” (Child O Child, why did you cry?)
The child still sobbing asnwered, “Erumbu kadichuthu, Naan azhuthen.” (Ants bit me so I cried)
Paati approached the ant, “Erumbe, Erumbe, een kadichai” (Oh ant, why did you bite the baby?)
Erumbu said, “En pothukulle kale pottal naan kadikathiruppeno” (Will I not bite if somebody put their foot into the ant-hill?)
Cheers
Anagha said
Thanks for posting this story. I relived my chilhood again :)
I knew only the version Narayan posted which was told by my ammu pati. Nowi learnt one more version
Shubha said
even I knew the version Narayan posted…. but loved both the versions…thanks for sharing…:)
sk said
it is a nice story. i remember a song starting —
mullu monaiyile moonu kolam vettinen.
rendu kolam pottal
onnu thanniye ille
thanni illa kolathile kulikka vanda per moonu per
rendu per modavan
orthan kaale ille
it goes on like this.
could you please complete this?
Krisatham said
There is a kannada song “Mullu koneya mela mooru keraya katti eradu thumbadu ondu thumbale illa…” composed by Purandara dasa. It is a philosophical song though. One version is sung by Sri Vidhyabhooshana – http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/carnatic_vocal/s/artist.104/
And the meaning can be found here- http://www.adi-shankara.org/2008/06/purandara-dasa.html.
I am also getting to understand the meaning just now. I was googling something and landed up here.
BTW my mother was called as SK in short and she expired 6 months before…that was another reason for me to respond quickly too.
Hamsa
ammupatti said
Hi Narayan
I am so glad you added to the story. Thanks so much. Do keep visiting(I know I take long interval between stories).
ammupatti said
Hi sk
I am sorry I have not heard about this story.
Best wishes
Nisha said
I also remember another story about a husband who wanted to eat kozhukattais. He did not know what they were called and went to a neighbor’s home to ask. On the way, repeated the word so he would not forget it. But he had to cross a small “gutter” and he jumped yelling “Immathadi” and he forgot the word kozukattai. And it goes on…….Have you heard this one?
Beautiful website! Took me back to my childhood.
Shubha said
yeah it was called “Athiribaccha..” when crossing the gutter he hears a kid shout athiri bachha and jump… so he does the same… and forgets the name kozhakattai and keeps saying “Athiribaccha”..and he he goes to his friends place… he keeps asking for it or something and then he is beaten by his friend or something… so when he comes back his wife asks him… y is ur body swollen like kozhakattai and that when he remembers that the word was kozhakattai…:P hhehhe i dont remember it exactly… but it was something like this…
vijaya said
the kozhukatti story was aslo said by my patti who never went to school.She had many other interesting stories like this which was set to music (chandoo sandanamo)..All these repeaditely said was recorded In my mind.It also make us make us cuddle next to her and make her repeat it everydaywhat she heard hearsay
Jayashree said
Lovely.
Both these stories took me to my childhood days when patti told us these stories and much more.
I think our children miss these as we find us busy and they are also busy……….
Thank u i will tell these to my children………
meena said
thanks for the story.need to have more such stories to tell my peran.
rachel said
Thanks for taking time to share these stories….Romba nalla yirukku..i remember i used to read Ambili maama books when i was a kid..i felt like reading them again….thx :-)
Shubha said
My amma and pati used to sing this for me… even “Kaka kaka kozhandaiki mai konduva”…:P
And “chand oo chandanamo…Chandanam aana manakatho.” this is so nostalgic Ammu patti.. thanks for sharing these… hope I can sing these sometime to my kids… when they come..:)
My mom used to sing these for me… even when i was in 11th n 12th… wish she was there now… miss her badly…:(
Thanks anyways…u remind me of all the nice memories i have with her..:)
Uma said
Hi Shuba,
Can u please post the Chand o chandanamo … full lyrics. I remember only half..
Chando chandanamo,
chandanamana manakkado,
Manakka Mangayo,
Mangayana Thimbaro…
After that I forgot. Will be very happy if u could reply back with the full lyrics.. Thanks in advance
Uma
Shubha said
Do u know the song… “Kai veesu amma kai veesu…” my tata used to sing it for it..If u do please post it for me..
Another was a malyalam song… my mom used to sing…”kannum pootu urang nee yen kanne kanana ponnu magale..” this was my moms favourite…:( wish i can get that song…please if anyone knows it..please post it for me..
Then there was a story about a greedy kuruvi… which eats too much with a vekkyal stuff to its butt… them another about a vai kozhupu brahmanan… wow… How i had forgotten all these stories…:(
Uma said
Subha,
Here You go!!
Kai Veesamma Kai veesu,
Kadaikku polam Kai veesu,
Mittai vaangalam kai veesu,
Meduvai Thingalam Kai veesu,
Kovilukku polam Kai veesu,
Kumbittu Varalam Kai Veesu
sheila said
in between is also sokkai vaangalaam kai veesu, sogusa podalam kaiveesu
ammupatti said
Hi Shubha and Uma
Thanks for being patient with me. Thanks for the Kai Veesamma Pattu also.
Even I have been researching
Chando Chandanamo
for over three years now.I have asked many people and I have not been able to get the full version of it. I am able to recollect only part of it. I shall post the part as I remember. I hope one of you will be able to complete it.
Enjoy Holika story.
Best wishes
Uma said
Here you go with Chanda Chandanamo
Chando Chandanamo
Chandanamana manakkado
Manakka Mangayo
Mangayana tongado
Tonga Toranamo
Toranamana kattado
Katta Kovilo,
Kovilana kumbidado
Kumbida Rajao
Rajavana Evaano
Eva kallano,
Kallanana odano
Oda Kaveriyo
Kaveriyana kalangado
Kalanga kazhuneero
Kazhuneerana thithikkado
Thithikka vellamo
Vellamana tinnukoyen
☺️
Finally
Kozhukattai and Ganesh; a match made in heaven. - HungryForever said
[…] Kozhukkattai, aen veakalai’ ‘Oh Kozhukkattai, why are you not yet cooked?’ This is a lovely Tamil poem on kozhukattai, a steamed rice dumpling that is stuffed with copious amounts of jaggery. Kozhukattai is a divine […]
Padmavathi said
My name is Padmavathi now 80yeasold I aml also over much interested in these old stories
Kozhakkatai kozhakkatai dambakkali
Pull-up molaichuthu dambakali
Pulle pulle een mollacchai
Maduthingalai nan molacchen
Made made een thingalai?
avuthu vidalai nan thingalai?
Paiya paiya een avuthu vidalai?
Kuzhanthai azhuthuthu avuthu vidalai
Kuzhanthe kkuzhanthe een azhuthai?erumbhu kadichuthu nan azhuthen
Erumbhu erumbe een kadicchai?
En putthukulle Kadiyai vittta chuma iruppenoo?
This is what I hv learnt from my mother in law
I know some more like this if any one is interested pl let me know
I will try to send what All IP
Uma said
Yes Please….
Uma said
Please share more stories that you know. Will be glad and Thankful.
Padmavathi said
Any one knows the following song
Please help to complete
Krishna kripaiyala muthubala padmanabha
Astashara porule krishna hariye odi varum
Kannukkumaiyittu kasturi pottum ittu kondaiki poochoota gopala odi vada
Muthu chutti asaya mughamverka muzhi chuzhala
Mohanamai kitte vandu muttham krishna tharum
Kaiyile vennai chinnthitho krishna kamala mugham marittho
Katten nan orunaalum endan kanne odi vada
Padmavathi said
Once upon a time there was a bee who did know its name so it went to ask
Each and put the samequesrion
The reply goes as if it is what today we call as anthakshari
Kozha kozha kanne en perenna
Enakku theriyadu enga ammakitte kelu
It went to his mother and asks
Kozhakozhza kanne kannin thaye en perenna
Like that it goes
In short
It will become
Kozhakozha kanne kannin thaye kannu meikum aaya aayan kai kole
Kolendum kodimarame kodimarathin melirukkum kokke
Kokku vazhum kulame kulatthil irukkum meena meen pidikkum valaiya valayan kai chatti chatti pannum kosava kosavan mannedukkum kuzhiye
Kuzhiyil irukkum pulle atthai thinnum kuthirai en perenna?
He hi hi hi hi
Oho en peru eechhaiya sari
Ramanathan Balakrishnan said
Nostalgia. I was searching for “Kozhukkattai, Kozhukkattai, aen veakalai” in google, and i found this one. I remember my paati pampering me with this one. I didn’t remember the lyrics, but was desperately searching to pamper my daughter. Keep up such archives !
Meera said
Hi it is so nice that am remembering my childhood days by the way I heard this song from my friend
Like this it comes but I don’t know the full version but the story is 2 sisters were living with their mother. One day mother prepared the dumpling for her kids the younger sister ate all the dumplings & later she realized she didn’t even keep 1 for her sister. So she catched a frog & kept in the vessel & closed it. When elder sister came to eat dumpling but she was asking her mom
Amma kozhakattai ku kannum undodi…
Amma kozhakattai ku kadhum undodi.
Padmavathi said
Does any one know the song gopalakrishnasami gokulathile kuzhanthai roopamaga avatharitthar
KASTURI RANGAN ENNAPADAM HARIHARAN said
No ma…I have no idea. Will find out.
Padmavathi said
Does anyone remember the following while playing whom to select
OH ONNARA DOOVARA DAKKARA DONE
YAVAL KAVAL MUSKI DONE
KALLAN KULLAN TWENTY ONE
YA U MAY PLUCK CHIP
CIPAI THOOKIMELEPOTTA CHETTIAR VEETU NANDU
ENGA MADU ELA HU POCCHU
KOLLU THINNA PAIYA
Padmavathi said
Hithiribachha katha
Ory oorile oru payyan leavela veetkku vandu irunthan
Appo oru friend veettukku friendai pakka ponan..
Ponaveettulr avathile kozhakkattai panni irunda. Romba tastyaga irundatha
Avan manasule intha kozhakkattaiyai nammatthukku poi pattikitte cholli
Panni chappidanum ninanchundu kozhakkattai perai chollide veettkku
Thrumbhi vandan vara vazhiyile oru peria pallam irundathu.
Athai thamdumpothu HAITHIRIBACCHA nnu chollindu thandinan.
Adukkappuram avanukku kozhakkattai peru marandu poyidutthu
Veetukku vandhappuram pattikitta patti enakku HAITHIBACCHA pnnittha
Adu romba nannairundhu thu,,patti therinjavakitta ellam HAITHIBHACCHA
RECIPE eppadi pannaradhunnu vijariccha.yarukkume,therialai.
Adanale pattikku rombha kovam vandhudutthu.
Paiyyana pottu kannathile adiccha. Ennada unakku pere therialai
Appo ennayidutthu paiyyanoda kannam rombha veenghi pocchu.
Athat partha patti ennada kozhakkatai mathi un kannan veenghiyuduthe varuthappatta . Appo suddena peru ninaivukku vandudu..patti nan
KAZHAKKATAI CHOLLARTHUKU BADILA haithiri baacchanu
Thappa cholliyooten ippo enakku kozhakkattai panni thannu cholla
Paattiyum pannikuduttha.
Iduthan HAITHIRI BAACCHA KATHAI
B.RADHIKA said
My daughter 3 years singing this rhyme.
B.RADHIKA said
john zaharra said
thank you to everyone
john talabot said
thank you zeppelin