CBSE · Class 10 · English · First Flight: Glimpses of IndiaWhat was the importance of the baker in the village of Goa during the old Portuguese days?

In the traditional Goan village, the baker, known as the 'pader', held a position of great significance. He was not just a seller of bread but a friend, companion, and guide to the villagers. His arrival twice a day—once in the morning to sell his goods and again after emptying his basket—was a musical event marked by the 'jhang-jhang' sound of his bamboo staff. For the elders, the loaves were a staple, while the children eagerly awaited the sweet bread bangles. No festival, marriage, or occasion like a daughter's engagement was complete without specific preparations like 'bol' or sandwiches, making the baker's furnace absolutely essential for the community's social and cultural life.