A Re- reading on the concept 'Pidiyari' ( a handful rice)

In Marthoma Church there was a tradition called "pidiyari"(a handful rice) which started long back.This tradition developed from a agrarian society.Surprisingly this was led by the women and the consequences also faced by them.

Once upon a time Church was poor.Nobody was there to support the church materially.The members of the church was also poor.Church was in it's infancy time.
It badly need material support.

The members of the church decided that we will support the church with whatever we have(At that time people solely depended on the agriculture.And also they don't had enough food to eat.More than that members was more.In a traditional family women always eat at the end after all members were fed. Sometimes women may not have anything to eat.Society "taught them" how they have to show smile in their faces even though they work in the kitchen and agriculture field without food).

During the discussion one woman from a poor family opined that,"I will set apart a handful of rice every day for my church".It was a revelation to all(revelation from God may not be like what we expect.Do we have the eyes to see the revelation? is the problem).All the women and the members of the church joined with the poor woman and said we all will do the same. Church appointed a person to collect the share of each family.

They used to collect the pidiyari at the end of every month. They used to auction the rice at the church(multi coloured rice-a symbol of polyphonic society).But the pain and suffering behind this offering may not be ignored. When the women put rice for lunch or dinner they used to set apart a handful of rice that caused them sleep in the night without having food(nothing was left out after all others were fed especially male members).

Later Church became rich. Many opined that "why we collect the rice from us? we will sponsor the Church" Leaders including the Priest went with the new suggestion.But I could be able to hear the cry of the poor women and men because they were not in the list of the sponsors of the Church.

From that time onwards church is in search of sponsors. But we lost a good tradition which includes all(rich and poor)

When we will regain this tradition? One sad thing is that these sponsors became the spoke persons and decision makers. In their perception subaltern communities are "worthless and unwanted".