The emotion called Katta Pai!

 

 A couple of weeks ago, my husband had inadvertently given three bags of washed clothes to an unknown ironing person. He said some new person had come asking for clothes to iron when he was on the phone, and he had handed them over to him. And now, all his new pants were missing. My first reaction was, “Oh dear! All my good Katta Pais!”   I know I know… but I really couldn’t help it.

Katta Pais, or what we call the Big Shopper bags, are not just some random objects; they are, as the new lingo for all things close to the heart goes, an emotion! There have been many Instagram reels by various groups around the theme of Katta Pais. The most hilarious one for me was the one by Vikkals Vikram group when the son informs his mother that he scored cent per cent in Class X Math exam or came state first in Class XII or even that he got a handsomely paying job abroad, her reaction was a simple smile. But when he says that he said no to Katta Pai at a saree shop in line with his policy of eco-conservation, the mother turns into Chandramukhi!

Even this piece, is the outcome of a lovely Katta Pai I saw at my friend’s yesterday. I was lacking the inspiration to write for a while now, but the sight of that simple bag triggered my thoughts. Well, that is the power of Katta Pai!

Why are we so attached to Katta Pais? Big shopper bags are no-nonsense, wide-mouthed, deep, heavy-weight bags with plastic or bamboo sticks inserted as handles with no zip to lock in. Nothing fancy at all! Yet, we all love them. It is just because of the functionality of the product.

Katta Pais are great companions when you want to go to the market, grocers, clothing stores or malls. They can accommodate whatever you put in them and are easy to carry. They used to be made of jute material but now I see many synthetic versions. Can you believe that my husband missed my lovely jute ones? Thank God! I have one more!

I have always had a connection with my Katta Pais. It is as if the bag teaches me a life lesson whenever I look at it. I could hear it saying in Iskcon lifestyle coach, Gaur Gopal Das ji's, style: “Just as I accommodate everything you put inside me, accept whatever comes your way and adapt to situations. Some may be as tiny as that spoon and some as huge as that five-litre pressure pan you thrust in forcefully; some as mundane as the chalk piece box and a few as fancy as that expensive dinner set you bought last week. Go with the flow.

“And when it is time for them to leave, allow them to go with the least resistance. Don’t hold on to things. Letting go creates space for newer experiences. Acceptance and keeping your options and opportunities open is the key to staying happy.”

Was I dreaming or was that bag really talking to me? I admit I am a huge fan of Gopalji but this seems next-level craziness. Well, I better check out that Katta Pai from the new store that I saw at my friend’s, to add it to my collection.

Ding! As I grudgingly get up and open the door, guess who? Our ironing person with all my favourite Katta Pais (and of course, my husband’s clothes). He said one of his new apprentices took delivery and forgot to return!

Just when I was reconciling myself to their loss, there they are. I am reminded of that Zen saying:  Whatever is meant for you will find you. Did I not say Katta Pai is an emotion?

If you’re gonna make connections which are innovative, you have to not have the same bag of experiences as everyone else does. – Steve Jobs