Before you think it is a new dance form, let me enlighten you - it's not. The movements, jerks and jumps induced by mosquitoes - when they attack one - is what I term "mosquito dance." I had learnt the rudiments of bharatanatyam when I was a young girl, but I never thought I would have to practice jumps and swaying movements now - when I'm in my sixties.

Kovaipudur (new Kovai or Coimbatore), where I live, is on the outskirts of the town. There is garbage all over the township. No one clears the garbage. Added to this is the wild growth of the parthenium weed. These two factors have together made this place a paradise for mosquitoes.

The mosquitoes, big and small, attack one at all times of the day and night - inside the house or outside the house. They have a knack of attacking me when I'm busy. Just as I'm cutting open the milk sachet, mosquitoes bite my elbows. Involuntarily, I jerk and the milk spills outside the vessel. When I'm washing utensils, swarms of mosquitoes attack my face and feet - some sit on my nose, some sit on my forehead, while some hum in my ears. To be free from them, I sway from side to side, and shift from one foot to the other. If anyone were to see me then, perhaps they would think I am loony!

I am a vegetarian, but the mosquitoes seem bent upon making me non-vegetarian. Why else should they come and plonk down on the dosas or parathas on the hot tawa? To prevent this, I have to wave my ladle to and fro over the tawa. The cooking and dancing go on simultaneously. My grandsons laugh uproariously when they see their ammamma jumping about, waving arms and legs.

In the evenings, I cannot sit in one place and sing my bhajans and slokas. I walk about the house, swinging my arms up and down to prevent mosquitoes biting me or getting into my mouth! Mosquito repellents don't agree with me - hence I have to seek other ways to deal with the mosquito menace. The only time I can get some respite from them is at bedtime. Once I get inside the mosquito net, I can sleep in peace, though I can hear the frustrated mosquitoes humming outside.

My daughter says one need not do any exercises or aerobics to keep oneself fit and slim, as the mosquitoes will compel you to be active and moving all the time. So if you are looking for an easy way to shed weight, Kovaipudur is the place for you. Welcome to mosquito dance!