Many might not identify this man if I introduce him by his name. The sweetness of the hot cotton candy sold by Raghavan from Ottapalam in Palakkad district will be afresh in your memories if you are a festival enthusiast.
It has been 52 years since he has started spreading the sweet smile on the faces of young and alike. He claims to have served three generations of people while the festival grounds changed drastically across the state. The products have changed and so have the people, but Raghavan remains an unchanging presence on festival grounds with his trademark smile.
Live kitchens became trendsetters only very recently and cotton candies are also served during parties these days. But Raghavan’s candies stand out. He is the only person now in Kerala to prepare cotton candy in the traditional way. His candies are untouched by mechanisation. He still uses only natural ingredients to prepare his confection. It is mesmerising to watch him turning the sugar crystals in to cotton like yarn in front of your eyes. The white and pink candies sell very fast. His regular customers are people thronging the festival grounds. The market trends have not affected him much. He still serves his candies at a very low cost.
Raghavan says that more than his candies people love to watch his hands at work. True to his claims the magical spell he creates with the turn of his wheels is really powerful. It is with the care and efficiency of an artist that he prepares each of his candies. The skill of preparing mouth-watering delicacies acquired through years of practice is definitely a fine art.
He seems satisfied with the glow in people’s eyes more than any monetary benefits. The simplicity of this man redefines humanity for the profit-driven new generation.