Kapda wala

I am talking about that era when shopping was considered luxury. The era of 70's and 80's. People used to do shopping only on special occasions like marriage or some grand happenings in one's home or family.

  

My home wasn't limited to us four, (three sisters and a brother) father and mother. It was actually like  a dharmshala with  many people residing together. This included my cousins who came looking for job and stayed until they got one.Thus our home was filled with atleast 15 to 20 members. In those days there  would be only one breadwinner for the family, so, all the  responsibilities lied on him. So buying clothes etc was done solely as per the demand and as per one's need.In our home too, the scenario was same. My mother was a house wife with  many household responsibilities, thus she too avoided unnecessary expenses, unless, it's really that important. We used to get new clothes during Puja or on one's birthday.

 

Now coming to my title "Kapda wala." 

Actually these Kapda walas were those people, who used to carry "THHAN"( bundles of cloth )on  their back ,and a measurement stick in their hand, they would be selling their clothes from door to door. In those  days the lady of the house would hardly go out for her shopping needs, thus these Kapda Wala was a solace for small shopping needs of her, and moreover, he would give away clothes on credit too.  Hence this Kapda Wala used to come every month to sell his clothes  as well as to collect his dues. Through these visit of this Kapda wala, we used to get a view of different variety of clothes out in fashion. This was our window shopping. But as I said shopping was a luxury so buying something wasn't that easy. 

 

Now, it so happened that a function was commencing in our family and every members had to have new clothes and also to carry  gifts for others too. So my father asked my mother to do the shopping from the Kapda Wala. Amma asked us to choose our clothes,we four chose accordingly and left the room happily. The function was to happen in Kerela. We reached well in advance and was anxiously waiting for the D day to wear our clothes. The D day arrived with pomp and grandeur and we wore our new clothes and reached the venue and lol 😬what do we see!!  all my cousins were too in the same outfit🙄.

 

It was a sheer surprise for us all.My cousins and others who had moved out from our home and were staying independently, had given their new address to the  Kapada wala who visited them too.The witty Kapda Wala had given the same coloured and same pattern clothes from a "THHAN"to all, in order to cut his cost on any new "THHAN".

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Here we all were looking like a  Baraat Band in uniform 🤣🤣

This comic/ comedy of ours is discussed even today in our native place whenever any functions take place !!!!!!!!The Kapda wala though a boon was also a bane 😉

Pic courtesy Google images