This short story comprises of specific traditions limited to our Sri Lankan culture. I think, we have our own customs and traditions with regard to Respecting Elders.
This series of incidents happened when I was three to six years of age kid. I could say that these stories are very memorable to me.
Job Transfers! So that day came with a job transfer of my father and, he has to move to another area. Those days my memories have attached to the river I had bathed, ducks and that ‘Soldare’ (Upstairs) in my friend’s house. But I do not remember the feelings I had when we had to leave that place. However, I was joyfully prepared to go to the new house. Every item of the house has stacked into a major lorry and, there were a couple of companions of my father to help us. But I do not remember how I left my friend and, I couldn't recall whether she was there or not even. She was not there, I think.
A woman who took care of me and, my sister additionally joined us to go to the new place and, her mother also came to visit us on that day. As per our Sinhalese traditions we used to respect our elders by adoring when we need to greet or express farewell to them. However, we used this tradition with very close relatives and respectable elders only. In any case, we utilized this convention with close relatives and good Elders as they were. So, on that day I needed to keep up this convention with numerous elders as we are abandoning them. Most of them asked me to behave well. I think some of them might think that it’s good to lose our company because of the small troubles they faced with me.
So, this is the most valuable episode that occurred on that day and, I would state that is the most key respect I showed to an elder amid my lifetime.
Culture Vs Feelings! Among numerous elders, I pick our take carer's ('Renuka') mother as a reasonable elder to state farewell by following up on our customs. If you exactly do not know the way we are following up on this tradition, I will try to explain it in this way. This is actually kind of respect that we are showing to our elders as younger. Here we should keep our knees, hands, and head on the floor by twisting back well in front of the elder’s foot.
That Incident! At that time, as a child, I might not think about her as our baby sitter’s mother. I may think about her as a mother of the most soft-hearted and genuine person. There are various reasons to state that 'Renuka' was the best woman who cared for us well among numerous in our childhood. I don't know the amount of tolerance she had when considering my tolerance limits with my sister's little one. I used to deal with my patience hard when I needed to deal with him for a couple of hours. However, 'Renuka' was an extremely kind-hearted individual who adored us and took care of us for a long time. I used to drink milk only if it has prepared by mother or ‘Renuka’ in those days.
As I remembered, ‘Renuka’ needed to roll out a few improvements in food before feeding me. If she came prepared milk to drink, then the first time it’s excessively hot. Second-time sugar was not enough and, the third time I said there’s no foam in the milk cup. In this way, to roll out these improvements, she went to the kitchen, a few times without saying anything. Always we could see her affection through her eyes too. I think it was a legitimate and regular inclination to respect 'Renuka's mother by following up on our traditions. However, you realize that others can't envision these things at first sight and they got irate with me. Even though I could not see any reactions, I got the result as soon as I moved to the new place. I got numerous recommendations in regard to the methods for choosing elders who are reasonable for our respect and, they revealed to me that they felt disgrace as a result of me. It was a reason for them to worry for a few days.
However, I still feel that the lady blessed me with her honest thoughts.
When I was respecting her, she told me many things as blessings and, hugged me. The genuine tears in her poor eyes touched my heart and, I felt happy with her companion that day. Sometimes it may be a memorable moment for her as well, even though she also a bit confused and inconvenient due to an unexpected incident. The other memorable incident happened when I was in grade one. There was a convention to offer our respects to our class instructor as per Sinhalese traditions, before leaving school. For some reason, instantly, I went over a few tables without holding up in the line and respected my class teacher. It might be the hurry I had to return home. However, the manner in which I adored was not impeccable and, I did it without twisting my head much. My teacher noticed my behavior and asked ‘Don’t your parents teach you the way of respecting us’ by consolidating all the faults I did at that time. Now you know how I have adored and respected elders right. Lol...
Even I did not tell this to my mother, later on, she got to know it from a few of my classmates’ mothers. However, after this incident, I used to respect them by keeping my hands, knees, and head on the floor by twisting my back well. I didn’t make this mistake again when respecting teachers who taught me. I recalled this incident every time when I have to respect them.
On the other hand, there was another practice when saying Goodbye to my friends.
My Tradition! On those days I hugged and kissed my friends when leaving school as a good-bye practice. So, I used to hug every girl and boyfriends and, I thought it shows my companionship to them till I meet them the next day. Most of the time I came back with my mother or a lady who looked after us and, they saw this practice many times. But there were no complaints from them. However, I had to stop this practice in one day once my father came to pick me from school. So, as usual, I hugged my every friend and returned home with my father. On the next day as well, my father observed this practice once he came to pick me.
Actually, I don't comprehend what's your opinion about the next sentences that I will right now.
I'm writing about the scene. As you know, beef is not acceptable nourishment according to Sinhalese traditions. However, according to my view, there ought to be the same consistency for every animal. Therefore, we realized that beef is not worthy of food from a kid's age. If you are a beef lover, you think about, feeling about clans who eat human meats and, it will comprehend the comparable inclination we had those days. In this case, my father exhorted me not to hug them as they are eating beef as their nourishment. I don’t know how to explain the exact feeling I had at that time honestly. However, it was not pleasant for me. I always remembered the innocent brown colored cow stretched out in the backyard of our housing scheme. I felt very sorry about that animal. I worried and cried a lot.
But my father's technique worked fine.
Very recently I got to know that sad and unpleasant thoughts are also sin after listening for a sermon of ‘Ven Thiththagalle Anandasiri’ Thero. (Sermon: "Maha Sinha Nadaya")
#blogger #bloggers #blogging #blog #writingcommunity #spreadlove #writerlift #reader #childhood #elder #friend #parents #father #mother #nanny #love #kind #fun #goodbye #culture #srilanka #tradition #worship #respect #respectyourelders
