A Baker From Goa

-Lucio Rodrigues

Aarush Gopal & Disha Kalayan

Goa, the smallest state in India, is renowned for its beautiful
beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural heritage. Known
as a popular tourist destination, it offers a unique blend of
Indian and Portuguese cultures, reflected in its architecture,
cuisine, and festivals.

Historically, Goa was a Portuguese colony for over 450

years, from 1510 until its annexation by India in 1961. This
colonial legacy is evident in Goa's distinctive blend of
European and Indian influences, The Portuguese impact on
Goan culture, language, and cuisine continues to be a
significant part of the region's identity such as goan bread
and baked goods, making Goa a unique and fascinating
destination.
Lucio Rodrigues was an Indian folklorist, writer, and
academic, renowned for his work on Goan folklore.
He is often referred to as the "Father of Goan
Folklore."

He was born on June 18, 1916, in the village of Moria

in Goa, then part of Portuguese India.

His essays in English, as well as those translated

from Konkani, were published after his death in 1973

Lucio Rodrigues
INTRO:
Goa was a Portuguese colony for four
centuries until it was liberated by the
Indian Army on 19th December 1961.

The Goan culture is highly influenced by the Portuguese culture. The Portuguese
loved loaves of bread a lot. Though they are gone now, the native bakers and their
goods still exist. Bakers still go to each house heralding their arrival with the thud
and jingle of their traditional bamboo staffs. A baker is called as “Péda” in Goa.
The author shares with us a portrait of a traditional Goan baker who used to visit
his home in his childhood.
 This might be very similar to us like
we hear “keerai amma” shouting
“keerai”every morning on her top of
her voice with the basket on top of her
head.

• The baker used to visit his house every morning. Hearing the 'jhang, jhang' thud of his specially
made bamboo staff made the children woke us up from sleep. the children would rush to him to get
specially made sweet bread bangles.He balanced the basket on his head. At each house he would
greet the lady of the house and keep the basket on his bamboo staff.
 During his childhood in Goa, the poet mentions the baker used to
be his friend, companion and guide. The baker used tocome at least twice a
day. Once, when he set out in
the morning on his selling round, and then again,when he returned after emptying his huge basket
The loaves of bread were delivered to the Pasine or Bastine - the maid servants of the house.
He would push aside the kids while he was delivering the loaves to the servant.
• The kids would not give up but climb on a bench or parapet to peep into the basket
and get the fragrance of the freshly baked loaves.
They loved those bread-bangles and ate them without even brushing their teeth.
The baker was an important person in the village as he baked different types of bread
andcakes for various occasions such as marriade endadement and festivals
He made a sweet bread called bol for marriages and cakes and bolinhas for Christmas
The bakers of those days wore a single-piece dress reaching down to the knees called
kabai.
Some wore shirts and short trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and
longer... than half pants.
The baker used to record his accounts on the wall of the house with pencil and collected
his bills at the end of the month.
The baker's family looked happy and prosperous as evident from their plump physique.
Even today a plump person is easily compared to a baker in Goa.
 bread-
banglessss,loafss,boli
nhas and more for 10-
A students!

THANK
YOU!