Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Jul 18: In olden days houses that were built using own technology by the builders of those times lasted many years and even centuries in some cases. A similar house is at Bakrabail, bordering Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod.

The house is identified as Bakrabail Chavadi. According to the inscription in the house, it was constructed some 987 years ago. The wooden inscription says that the house was built by Manjanna Alva, son of Deyamma. Old Kannada script has been found that was used in this writing.

Seven families used to live in this house which was also used as Dharma Chavadi. More than 100 people lived together in the house and the deities of the family are also worshipped throughout ages. Before the land reform act came into implementation, the family had 4500 acres of land.

This house was like the chieftain of the village during the olden days. It used to provide food to all the villagers every day. In addition, people of the village used to come to this house and make promises when something went wrong, a kind of traditional divine court.

This house has the presence of Malaraya and Dhoomavati Banta Daivas even to this day. Every day, a lamp is lit in their name in this house even now.

As people belonging to these people are living in various places, no one is residing in the house for many years. Valuable wooden roofing and poles are there in the house which consists of beautiful artefacts as well.

Concerned people of the family have taken up the project of renovating the house. According to the in-charge of the renovation work Santhosh Kumar Shetty, the cost of renovation is likely to be Rs 3 crore.

There are elderly people still living in the vicinity of this house, who recall the grand old days, when the family of this house used to rule the whole village. They say that huge donations were given to people who visited the house during special occasions of Vishu Sankramana, Ugadi and Krishna Janmashtami festivals. People of the whole village were obedient to the family living in this house.