TODDY TAPPER

BY

Syed .G. Adnan

C19-4220

FYB.COM (B)

This our first blog on occupations of Goa, and this blog specifically tells about toddy tappers of  Goa and their life being a Toddy Tapper.  

 Mr. Rosario t Fernandez is the toddy tapper residing in our ward of Ravoia Navelim. It has been nearly 25 years, he is engaged in this occupation. His father Mr Salvador Fernandez was also a toddy tapper. Mr Rosario t. Fernandez is the only toddy tapper in Navelim hence a lot of people came near him to purchase toddy.

 He climbs on coconut tree and he performs his job thrice a day on each coconut tree i.e. in the morning afternoon and evening.
 In the morning and the evening the “vein” of the tree at its top is opened and the sap slowly drains into attached clays pot called damonen .during afternoon heat the toddy tapper climbs the trees and closes the opening so that the tree has time to recover its lost fluids he climbs the using footsteps carved on the truck and supports himself once in the tree tops by the base of the palm leaves once enough toddy (sur)in collected he make vetregar and during the rainy season  he prepares coconut feni (alcohol)

Toddy tapping is his whole and soul income fenerating business through which he looks after his family. The colour of the sur is milkfish white and sweet to drink when it is raw.
The sur is used for making sweets like sannas, in the main Goan dish especially during festivals, wedding, feast etc.

Mr Rosario does get a holiday as his work is carried out through the year and has to work in all weather conditions.

During heavy rains also he goes for work thrice a day and does not get a holiday even if he is not well.

Now he has become very old and, find it difficult to climb trees due to his health, however he continues his work to look after his family.

In this picture there is a coconut tree where every few inches there's a carving on the tree, this carving helps the toddy tapper to easily climb on the tree.

                                The vessel in this picture is used by the toddy tapper to contain extracted toddy, he takes this vessel with him while climbing the tree.