31/05/2026
The Story of
C H E M B O T H
A sign of sweets to come
As children, some of us have been told that spotting a chemboth or uppan, as the bird is called in different parts of Kerala, is a sign that we will get a sweet treat!
Come to think of it, the chemboth/ uppan (greater coucal) is a little scary with its red red eyesโฆwe suppose its transformation into an omen of sweet treats mustโve brought relief and joy to many a child.
The achappam (rose cookie) is one of the many treats we looked forward to getting and its form simply lent itself to this totem.
Have you heard of this story too? Do you have a similar bringer of treats? Do let us know in the comments!
greater coucal t-shirt, chemboth t-shirt, uppan t-shirt, achappam t-shirt
