Guthu mane at Pilikula – A South Kanara traditional House
My Chicago based cousin was bringing her young children to India for the first time, and I wanted them to get a sense of our native place living. Though they did enjoy our hospitality at our 100+ year old ancestral heritage home, it was time to take them to a Guthu Mane, or a traditional family manor of South Kanara.
These houses of South Kanara were built to suit the needs of the big sized joint families of olden times. It was usually owned by one family along with all the land holdings around it.
After just a few minutes drive from Mangalore we visited a rreconstructed Guthu Mane that was open to the public on purchasing a ticket at the entrance of the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama. Even before entering the Guthu Mane, we were impressed by the external architecture of this sprawling mansion.
A traditional bullock cart, a covered well and the Tulsi plant enclosure greeted us at the entrance.
The sloping roofs had the typical Mangalore tiles to ward off the heavy rains of this area. We entered the huge split level verandah supported with a number of wooden pillars. There were many wooden beams also across the grand wooden ceiling. I could imagine the family sitting and laughing together here as they looked out of their home!
On either side of the entrance verandah were some typical ancient wooden furniture. We went in straight through the exquisite carved door and I we entering another big inner room. There were more solid wooden furniture here chests, cabinets, writing desks and chairs. But the pride of place was for the big wooden swing.. I have fond memories of almost our whole family spending precious laughing moments on the swing.
As we crossed another door we found ourselves staring at a huge open courtuard, again surrounded by verandah and wooden pillars on all four sides. Large spacious rooms were constructed on all four sides, with entrance doors facing the inner courtyard.
We first entered the traditional kitchen which was filled with old brass and copper pots and pans of all sizes. We too have some of the older kitchen implements like coconut grater, vegetable slicers, vermicelli makers, etc. (Our old brass and copper kitcchen utensils now occupy a pride of place in my hall as shiny plant holders).
There was a rice ball, where the fresh rice husk is wrapped in hay and is still used in our religious functions – my brother had carried this 25+kg heavy item on his shoulder as a traditional gift to my son at his sacred thread ceremony. My cousin was amazed at the variety of pumpkin and other vegetables tied to the roof as well as ceramic pickle jars of all sizes.
There were a large number of kitchen and farm implements on display along with traditional indoor game items like channe mane, with which we used to play as a child along with lots of small sea shells.
Instead of big rooms with deities to pray to, this place gave us a taste of the local culture and customs. There was a room devoted totally to depict the nuances and makeup involved in performing the energetic Yakshagana dance. We could press a button and get an idea of the typical Yakshagana song that I had grown up listening to.
In another corner room there was a depiction of images of people in different local folk dance costumes. Again we pressed the button and got a sense of the foot tapping local music to which the folk artists dance by painting themselves in tiger forms.
We then entered what was a traditional bedroom. The old wooden cradle that I had slept in as a baby seemed more ornate than the one in this room. The wooden four poster bed, the wooden cupboard, the wooden clothes stand, the wooden bench all brought back memories, as they were present in my grandmother’s home too!
Just imagine the value of the intricately carved teakwood or rosewood used in the furniture, pillars and wooden ceiling beams of this huge home. We were not allowed to see the even more grander bedrooms of the first floor.
The central portion must have been filled with the hardworking women of the house, along with many laughing children running around!
Guthu houses were designed with a balance of aesthetics and practicality. It reflects the cultural identity of South Kanara district, especially to our young relatives from abroad who visit India only for a few weeks. ,
The planning and eye for detail makes these homes weather friendly to the harsh summers and the strong monsoon rains.
Since my brother too lives in a 100+ year ancestral home in Mangalore, I know that maintaining them is a big effort – and time can take its toll. We were very lucky to get to see this beautiful reconstructed Guthu house at the Pilikula Nisargadhama in Mangalore. We did not have much time to see everything in leisurely detail, yet our foreign visitors did get a sense of the feeling of life in these houses.
These old ancestral homes still make us smile as they are present proof of our past rich varied heritage.
So in 2018 do notice these simple smiling moments.Have a smiling year.
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