![]() ![]() Buddhist monks are settled in Bylakuppe which is very close to this place. There is a sixty-four-acre island of Nisargadhama nearby. The trekkers find numerous walking trails in this area.įrom the Brahmagiri hills, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire landscape of Coorg. The river and mountain offer various adventurous games like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Elephants enjoy being bathed here by their mahouts. Birds, bees, and butterflies give one a good company here. One can see elephants, kingfishers, squirrels, and langurs enjoying themselves in the lap of nature. This river is full of Mahaseer, a large freshwater fish. Kaveri, the only river of the area, gets its water from Coorgi hill. ![]() There are a variety of natural scenes which can be enjoyed by the tourists. Even today, the Kodavus are the only people in India who are allowed to carry firearms without a licence. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. ![]() The Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. It is like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. It is evident from the long, black coat worn by the people. Another theory says that these people are originated from the Arabs. This culture can be seen in the martial traditions, marriage and religious customs. According to a story, a part of Alexander’s army did not return and was settled here. They are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. The people of Coorg are independent and brave. Their plump bodies seemed like that of a jackfruit. Their families and servants never starved. Baking was a profitable business in those days. In the household, the baker’s monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall with pencil. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Even today, if someone wears a half pant, he is said to be dressed like a baker. During narrator’s childhood, bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants. The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. On all occasions, the villagers needed one or another type of cake which could be baked in the furnace. Thus, the presence of a baker’s furnace was very essential in each village. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as for other festivals. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweetbreads. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as “Bol’. The village baker was especially important for all occasions. The author was so fond of bread that he would not even brush his teeth before eating it. In those times, it was a fashion to eat bread with hot tea. The author and the others looked into his basket. Whenever someone came to him to buy bread, he placed the basket on the bamboo. With one hand, the baker supported the basket of bread on his head and with the other, he struck the ground with the bamboo. He made the sound jhang, jhang’ by banging his bamboo on the ground. The baker’s bamboo stick was a special one. But the author ran to the baker to buy bread-bangles. The servants from the different houses bought loaves. The sound of this stick used to wake up the authors and others from sleep. He used to be the authors friend and guide. The author recalls that a baker used to visit the village twice a day. These bakers are known as Pader in Goa even today. ![]() Someone in the baker’s family still carries on the business and the tradition. The sound of the traditional baker bamboo can still be heard. But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa he furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there. The Portuguese were famous for preparing the loaves of bread. Although, with the passage of time, people do not eat so much bread yet the village bakers are still there. In this extract, the author remembers his old days in Goa when the village baker occupied an important place in life. ![]()
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