Story # 4: Coins in my Water. (My Sybala Memory) By George Nandan
At the tender age of four yrs. One of my cousins got married, a traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony at the time. As I recall my neighbor Auntie Shama and my mom Auntie Baby, did something different. I had long thick black hair, with fair skin and a sunny composition. They had me sit down cleaned me up and prepped my hair. Kind of what the Hair Dressing Salons do in curling styles these days.
Now I was too playful to pay any attention. I was thinking, big deal they probably wanted to me look more cute anyway. I was already mentally prepared for multiple pinches on my cheeks anyway. But to my surprise a few days later my Uncle Harry Hing came in with a nice shiny costume. Still running around playing with the kids, I had no cares but to enjoy playing with my siblings and my neighborhood full of kids.
Long before Barney, as kids we had almost nothing, no toys, just our imagination. We were too poor anyway. Food on the table comes first. Of course my elder siblings were very creative and made homemade toys but none equal to Toys R Us.
This picture was taken facing West in 1970.
To your right is Lull on the bicycle, Indo, then me "Sunny", then Naro, then its Gope holding Seerie in his left hand. Sorry if the picture is fuzzy. Notice the us five kids had no shoes back in those days. I was six years old. Our home had mud walls and the kitchen had a grass roof. I nearly burned down our house playing with matches but that's another story for another day. I have to keep this artistic not mischievous Well probably a mixture of both.
Anyway getting back to point. My Uncle called me to his side. He asked me if I know what the costume looking thing was for? I said no because I never paid attention anyway. He said he is going to get me married. So I responded by said Uncle I cannot get married I don't have a job and besides I am not big like Dad. He smiled and said that its OK, I want to try this on you. Shocked, I got inquisitive. Now I know my Uncle Harry Hing is the most established Tailor in the whole village, so this must be important.
I started to recognize the costume and the significance gradually. Now I became silent as my Uncle Harry is trying the outfit to see how it fits on me and I suddenly feel its importance. It is once of a lifetime opportunity that only a few little boys can have the honor of. The honor of being a "Sybala". A 'Sybala" is a cherished role played by cute little boys accompanying the "Dulaha" or bridegroom to the bride's residence. Sometimes the "Sybala" can be steal the show and the bride's heart....lol...
In the western world a "Sybala" can be interpreted as a "Minnie Me" version of the Bridegroom. Well all of that is nice and good and everything but wait there's more if you call within the next thirty minutes...nah just kidding.
The time came for us to travel to Interprise/Numprel on the East Coat of Demerara. That's where my cousin Hanoman lived. It was his special request that I be his "Sybala". My mother is a Bachelors Adventure girl so her side of the family are all fair skinned. The girls are beautiful and the Dudes look like models...lol... So I have a good blood line. My cousin Hanuman was very pleased with the preparation my mom arranged on me.
I remember at that particular wedding, it started one week before and two weeks later the music is still going. It was my first real experience of culture, music and an appreciation for the arts. Any typical Hindu wedding in my native country Guyana is an adventure by itself. Many documentaries can be made.
As I was sitting after the ceremony is over, I noticed people started gathering looking at me. Many young girls and aunties came over and starting the usual ...pinching me on the cheeks, ah well no big deal. My eldest sister Chan who is mostly my caretaker along with Mavis Diddy (Hanuman the bridegromm's sister) in my childhood days, left to bring me some food. I was starving. Mavis Diddy is my favorite of all my cousins but that's another story for another day.
Mavis Diddy came back with my favorite, Dhall and rice with catahar. This time in a puree leaf. The official plate of any Hindu wedding in Guyana. So I started eating and soon afterwards she brought me a cup of water and then she disappeared to mingle with the others.
I do not think she realized what she did by leaving me all alone because the guests had me all for themselves. As I was shoveling down because I was hungry. Just as I was about to reach out for my drink of water a strange thing happened. Some Uncle put a twenty five cents coin in my water.I am like what in the world is wrong with that uncle. (I got to understand later that he was Uncle Charlie who nearly fought off my Dad thinking he cannot have such a fair skin son)...but that's another story for another day. He must be drunk or happy. I guess he was both.
In Guyana back in the days, everyone older that is older than you, you must treat them with respect. Grown ups are called either uncle or auntie. Older boys are called Buddy then their name and older girls are called Diddy then their name or vice versa. As for me when no one is looking I call the older kids their names.
I was hungry and now I am thirsty. But I cannot drink because some uncle threw a coin in my water. Soon afterwards other gusts followed suit with nickels and dimes and pennies. Not even Mavis Diddy nor my sister is anywhere to be found, so I was agitated. I enjoyed the admiring and staring and even the pinching on my now sore and painful cheeks but don't mess with my food and water Mon! This Canal boy can get upset. The villagers must have sensed how extremely agitated I was, because I could not drink and they kept putting more and more coins in my water. The only thing that kept me calmed me down was the soothing tunes of Hindi Filmi songs that folks these days named Bollywood.
All of a sudden my cousin Hanuman the Bridegroom came around to check up on me. He came with a special request from his new bride Bhougie Gita. But I told I am thirsty and these people are making fun of me. He picked me up in his arms and took me to his bride who gave me water and soda with her own hands.I enjoyed both their company until Mavis Diddy came looking for me and took me away.
Looking cute or not, don't mess with a Dude's water Mon! Especially a "Sybala".
Thank you for reading......Please share and/or subscribe....Please encourage a little one today to never give up on his/her dreams.....
To be con't...........
At the tender age of four yrs. One of my cousins got married, a traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony at the time. As I recall my neighbor Auntie Shama and my mom Auntie Baby, did something different. I had long thick black hair, with fair skin and a sunny composition. They had me sit down cleaned me up and prepped my hair. Kind of what the Hair Dressing Salons do in curling styles these days.
"True Love requires no compensating factors or set conditions..."
George Nandan
Long before Barney, as kids we had almost nothing, no toys, just our imagination. We were too poor anyway. Food on the table comes first. Of course my elder siblings were very creative and made homemade toys but none equal to Toys R Us.
To your right is Lull on the bicycle, Indo, then me "Sunny", then Naro, then its Gope holding Seerie in his left hand. Sorry if the picture is fuzzy. Notice the us five kids had no shoes back in those days. I was six years old. Our home had mud walls and the kitchen had a grass roof. I nearly burned down our house playing with matches but that's another story for another day. I have to keep this artistic not mischievous Well probably a mixture of both.
Anyway getting back to point. My Uncle called me to his side. He asked me if I know what the costume looking thing was for? I said no because I never paid attention anyway. He said he is going to get me married. So I responded by said Uncle I cannot get married I don't have a job and besides I am not big like Dad. He smiled and said that its OK, I want to try this on you. Shocked, I got inquisitive. Now I know my Uncle Harry Hing is the most established Tailor in the whole village, so this must be important.
I started to recognize the costume and the significance gradually. Now I became silent as my Uncle Harry is trying the outfit to see how it fits on me and I suddenly feel its importance. It is once of a lifetime opportunity that only a few little boys can have the honor of. The honor of being a "Sybala". A 'Sybala" is a cherished role played by cute little boys accompanying the "Dulaha" or bridegroom to the bride's residence. Sometimes the "Sybala" can be steal the show and the bride's heart....lol...
In the western world a "Sybala" can be interpreted as a "Minnie Me" version of the Bridegroom. Well all of that is nice and good and everything but wait there's more if you call within the next thirty minutes...nah just kidding.
The time came for us to travel to Interprise/Numprel on the East Coat of Demerara. That's where my cousin Hanoman lived. It was his special request that I be his "Sybala". My mother is a Bachelors Adventure girl so her side of the family are all fair skinned. The girls are beautiful and the Dudes look like models...lol... So I have a good blood line. My cousin Hanuman was very pleased with the preparation my mom arranged on me.
I remember at that particular wedding, it started one week before and two weeks later the music is still going. It was my first real experience of culture, music and an appreciation for the arts. Any typical Hindu wedding in my native country Guyana is an adventure by itself. Many documentaries can be made.
As I was sitting after the ceremony is over, I noticed people started gathering looking at me. Many young girls and aunties came over and starting the usual ...pinching me on the cheeks, ah well no big deal. My eldest sister Chan who is mostly my caretaker along with Mavis Diddy (Hanuman the bridegromm's sister) in my childhood days, left to bring me some food. I was starving. Mavis Diddy is my favorite of all my cousins but that's another story for another day.
Mavis Diddy came back with my favorite, Dhall and rice with catahar. This time in a puree leaf. The official plate of any Hindu wedding in Guyana. So I started eating and soon afterwards she brought me a cup of water and then she disappeared to mingle with the others.
I do not think she realized what she did by leaving me all alone because the guests had me all for themselves. As I was shoveling down because I was hungry. Just as I was about to reach out for my drink of water a strange thing happened. Some Uncle put a twenty five cents coin in my water.I am like what in the world is wrong with that uncle. (I got to understand later that he was Uncle Charlie who nearly fought off my Dad thinking he cannot have such a fair skin son)...but that's another story for another day. He must be drunk or happy. I guess he was both.
In Guyana back in the days, everyone older that is older than you, you must treat them with respect. Grown ups are called either uncle or auntie. Older boys are called Buddy then their name and older girls are called Diddy then their name or vice versa. As for me when no one is looking I call the older kids their names.
I was hungry and now I am thirsty. But I cannot drink because some uncle threw a coin in my water. Soon afterwards other gusts followed suit with nickels and dimes and pennies. Not even Mavis Diddy nor my sister is anywhere to be found, so I was agitated. I enjoyed the admiring and staring and even the pinching on my now sore and painful cheeks but don't mess with my food and water Mon! This Canal boy can get upset. The villagers must have sensed how extremely agitated I was, because I could not drink and they kept putting more and more coins in my water. The only thing that kept me calmed me down was the soothing tunes of Hindi Filmi songs that folks these days named Bollywood.
All of a sudden my cousin Hanuman the Bridegroom came around to check up on me. He came with a special request from his new bride Bhougie Gita. But I told I am thirsty and these people are making fun of me. He picked me up in his arms and took me to his bride who gave me water and soda with her own hands.I enjoyed both their company until Mavis Diddy came looking for me and took me away.
Looking cute or not, don't mess with a Dude's water Mon! Especially a "Sybala".
Thank you for reading......Please share and/or subscribe....Please encourage a little one today to never give up on his/her dreams.....
To be con't...........
