Oppula Kuppa, the Spinning Song

Told in English, Telugu.

In a little village near the Godavari river, there lived two sisters, Chinni and Lasya. Every evening, when the sun turned orange, they ran out into the courtyard to play.

One evening, Ammamma sat on the step with a plate of murukulu. "Come here, my little ones," she said. "I will teach you a game I played when I was small, just like you."

The girls came running. "What game, Ammamma?"

"A spinning game," said Ammamma with a smile. "Stand face to face. Now cross your arms and hold hands. Right hand holds right hand, left hand holds left hand."

Chinni and Lasya crossed their arms and held on tight.

"Now put your toes close together and lean back a little," said Ammamma. "And go round and round, while we sing."

Then Ammamma sang, clapping her hands.

Oppula kuppa, oyyari bhama, sanna biyyam, chaaya pappu, chinna muvva, sanna gaaju, kobbari koru, bellam mukka.

The girls began to turn. Round and round, round and round! Their long skirts went swish, swish, like flowers opening.

"What does the song mean, Ammamma?" asked Lasya, still spinning.

"It is a happy, silly song," said Ammamma. "Oyyari bhama means a graceful girl who moves so softly and prettily. Then the song sings about lovely little things. Fine white rice. Split dal. A tiny bell that goes ting, ting. A thin, shiny bangle. Grated coconut. And a sweet piece of jaggery. All good things in one happy heap, just like you two!"

The girls giggled and spun faster. Round and round, round and round!

Can you sing it with them? Oppula kuppa, oyyari bhama!

Faster and faster they went. Whoosh! The mango tree went round. The tulasi plant went round. Even Ammamma went round and round!

"Oh, oh!" cried Chinni. "Everything is turning!"

Because they spun so very fast, their heads felt dizzy. Their hands let go, and plop, plop, they both sat down on the soft grass. They looked at each other and laughed and laughed.

Ammamma laughed too. "You see, my dears? When you spin too fast, you get dizzy. Go slowly, and hold hands tight, and the game lasts much longer."

So the girls stood up. They crossed their arms again. They held hands tight. And this time they turned slowly, gently, like a soft breeze.

Oppula kuppa, oyyari bhama, sanna biyyam, chaaya pappu, chinna muvva, sanna gaaju, kobbari koru, bellam mukka.

Round and round, slow and sweet. Now nobody fell down. They spun and sang until the first star came out in the sky.

Then Amma called from the kitchen, "Dinner is ready!" There was hot rice and pappu, just like in the song. And for a treat, Ammamma gave each girl a little piece of jaggery.

"Bellam mukka!" said Chinni, and everyone smiled.

That night, tucked in bed, the two sisters whispered the song one more time, very softly. Oppula kuppa, oyyari bhama. And as their eyes closed, they dreamed they were spinning slowly, gently, round and round, under the moon.

Good night, little one. Tomorrow, maybe you can play oppula kuppa too.