En Katta Paiye

 

En Katta Paiye

If Buddha was alive today, he would have asked “Katta pai illadha veedu edhu”? Katta pai had permeated in all our houses replacing basket bags or “Koodai pai”.  Once we were using “koodai” in different colours and styles and carried them to temples, shops and to pack food while travelling. Koodai pai has become a past and has been slowly replaced by katta pai which has myriad number of uses. Also it is strong, durable, colourful and multifaceted.  Be it wedding, betrothal or any function, most of the stuff is packed in a katta pai. Earlier iron man in our street used to collect clothes wrapped in a lungi or veshti- now Kattapai replaced it. Amma used to buy monthly groceries in cardboard boxes – now Kattapai replaced it. Schools started distributing books using katta pai because of the added strength of wooden handles. Garment shops compliment katta pai to customers and we are delighted to see the katta pai as equal to the stuff in it. Once it is used to maximum extent, it can still be used to store the unwanted and to-be discarded items. It can be burnt without emission of any toxic contaminants as in plastic bags.

Jute bags made an attempt to replace katta pai but jute bags are branded as handy, trendy, and designer ones. The tensile strength or tear strength of the katta pai is unconquerable. Food grade bags, woven bags, designer plastic bags, leather bags, tote bags, drawstring bags, basket bags and many bags serve different purposes but nothing can replace the functionality of the katta pai. They can just accommodate anything and they are tough-enough. Journalists carry jholna pais, Fashion Divas carry a Satchel, Grandmas carry(?) Surukku Pai and each and every household now carry a katta pai.

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