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Chithrabhanu Perumangatt's avatar

The norm is the same in Kerala. Husbands have names like "listen", "look here' (nokkoo) etc. On the top many call "chetta" , which means elder. This goes even crazier. My grandmother used to call my cousin by a different name. When I asked why she told me that my cousin's original name is my grandpa's name too. So, you are not supposed to utter your pathi's name even if you are calling someone else. Which reminded me of this story :

After 41 days of vratham (godly routine dedicated to devotion ), s Malathi started her journey to Sabarimala. Needless to say, she is older than 60. People go to Sabarimala in groups. There will be a main Swamy (everyone addresses each other as Swamy during that period) which leads the way. They have a pretty catchy slogan while travelling "swamiye ayyapa". Ayyappan is the god sitting in Sabarimala. The main swami will shout "swamiye" and the followers should shout "ayyappa".. This will happen everywhere. In the bus, train, and tea shops. It is a signal that many swamis (godly people) are coming and you need to make space for them. But many found Malathi mumbling when she was supposed to shout "ayyappa". When it was a large group she was not noticeable. But one day it was only the main Swamy and her two kids. The main swami heard the mumble behind and gazed with anger. He repeated

"swamiye"

Malathi closed her eyes and shouted "Kuttyolde acha" ( father of my kids.)

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Her husband's name was also Ayyappan

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Puneet Aghi's avatar

What a lovely post. I love the ideas that you pick!

Also, fun fact: For the first 8 years of my life, I thought my father's name was "suno" because my mother used to call him that.

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