Madikeri: In western countries most houses have a fire place inside to keep inmates warm during severe cold conditions. Its a simple construction made of bricks and stones designed to contain fire.The land of coffee which is akin to Switzerland when it rains and during winter, people use coal and cane baskets to keep themselves and their clothes warm.
Some wonder what connection these two have in the prevailing environmental conditions. Simple, coal helps to create a temporary fire place inside or outside the residence where cane baskets are kept beside the fire place help in drying few clothes. Few clothes are spread around ‘Pagoda’ type cane baskets which are kept beside the fire place.
Though the technology looks outdated in ‘spycam’ times it has been around for years. In cities people use metal stands for drying clothes mostly chinese make which are normally kept in balconies of apartments.
The recent downpour has turned the hilly district into a damp foggy land. Salesmen on bare feet carry the cane baskets (in local language called Balanji) and look for prospective buyers. The inflation hasn’t spared this product too as they too have become expensive due to non availability of cane in abundance and the rising labour costs of basket weavers. Coal is dear for well known reasons and price shoots up during Ramzan where most dry food items like mouth watering Kebabs are made using coal.
It’s the hug that brought warmth among Muslim brethren this Ramzan where as for the rest, the burning coal.
When asked about the buyers for his expensive cane basket which costs around Rs 500 the salesmen said it can be used for other purposes too. When quizzed further he shot back, can you breed chicken using your product in summer?
His answer had the price ‘built-in’!
