The words in Tamil are:
Koley Koleyah MundrikaaiWalangchi Walangchi Kathirikaai
Ottu Mela Yeruven
Yeetiyaley Kuthuven
Paacharici Thimben
Palley Udaypen
Sengal
Vun Vaayila Pongal
These roughly translate into English as:
Bunch of Grapes
Curves of Aubergines
I will climb up on the Roof
I will eat Raw Rice
I will put Pongal in your mouth!
Instructions
- Any number of children (from 10 to 40) sit in a large circle on the ground.
- One child is chosen to run around the outside of the circle, holding a scarf/ piece of light material.
- At the same time, this child calls the first line of the song (Koley Koleyah Mundrikaai) and all the other childen respond by singing the next line.
- This continues with the call and response in the same manner for the next 4
- When the children in the circle have sung their last response (Vun Vaayila Pongal), then the child running around the circle and singing the call throws the scarf down onto any other child's shoulder that he wishes. This second child takes the scarf and chases the first child around the circle trying to catch him before the first child can get into the empty place in the circle that the second child has just left.
- The first child has to go round the circle once. If he is successful, the first child can take his place in the circle and the game continues. Otherwise, the first child is still in his position and the game continues!