Cultural and traditional aspects of toddy consumption are interesting. People say after drinking toddy, the experience is like riding a white horse.
Palm date tree toddy is very sweet and less intoxicating. Whereas, Palm tree toddy is relatively more intoxicant. When just collected afresh from the tree, it is very sweet and nice. Toddy ferments and turns into alcohol with time and the taste turns from sweet to sour. It is very intoxicating. People enjoy toddy right at the trees where it is brought down. They drink out of leaves by holding them to their mouth while the toddy tapper pours the toddy from an earthen pot.
In the past toddy was sold in the earthen pots called Kallu Muntha or an earthen pot, specially designed with a wide bottom and narrow neck. The irony is that a person can fall after consumption, but this pot with toddy will not fall. I have seen that toddy is sold in the glass bottles also called Kallu Seesalu, such as reused beer bottles. Ironically in the past, it was sold in the reused Glucose glass (saline) bottles too. When a villager says the old man requires glucose’, it means toddy. Some old people with arthritis walk straight and with confidence after drinking toddy.
Crows, monkeys and big black ants also consume the tasty toddy on the trees. After drinking, Crows excrete the fruit seeds that they have consumed. Especially the Indian banyan tree grows around the Palm trees.
People suffering from Jaundice also consume toddy as part of traditional medical treatment. Toddy is considered to cool the body from heat so there is more consumption of toddy, especially during the summers. Jaggery made from toddy is also good for health.
The nickname of toddy and other beverages is called ‘Mandhu’ which means medicine in Telugu. The doctor prescribes medicine for one’s health, and the other medicine ‘drink’ is self-prescribed by the people for their happiness. Another irony is that the shop selling medicines are called Medical Shop, in Telugu its translation refers to Liquor Shop that is ‘Mandhu Dukanam.’ Too much consumption of anything would finally lead to consuming the real medicine prescribed by a doctor.
In some villages, there would be water shortage for domestic use, but there is plenty of toddy and other beverages always available.
When relatives come home, they are served toddy as an honour. I was ten years old when I first tasted the toddy. It happened that my family visited our relatives in the village Pulmamidi, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana. They brought some fresh toddy for the consumption by the adults. It was kept in a place which is used for storing the onions called ‘Ulligadda Mande’. It is a hut-like structure created with the dry sticks of the pigeon pea plant. It is a relatively cool place inside. My ‘Alludu’ that is the cousin’s (sister) son, and I were alone sitting in that place, and all the others were busy. He has shown me these toddy bottles stored inside as the place was cool. It was around 4:00 p.m. He said that it tastes like sugar water and good to drink. I tasted a little bit, and it was so nice. Soon, I have completed drinking three bottles, that is equivalent to about two litres. I started feeling drowsy and soon fell into a deep sleep. I am not sure what happened next. In the midnight, I woke up and called my mother telling that I am hungry. My mom later shared what happened, that I was in a deep sleep after consuming the toddy. And they brought me home in a bullock cart from the field. I was knocked down by the first time experience in life.
Most of the old generation people have the habit of drinking toddy. Men drink more than women, and they drink almost regularly. Men visit the ‘Kallu Compound’ a semi-open place where toddy is sold. It has small platforms and a convenient place to interact with friends while consuming toddy. One or two women usually sell the eateries. It is very rare that after consuming toddy people ever misbehaved with the women selling the eateries. They sell items which are not found elsewhere, such as very big size Papadalu (crispy wafers), Ulavalu (Horse gram), Bobbarlu (cowpeas), Chenagalu (Chick Pea), Chudva (Puffed rice plus other ingredients), Mirchi Bajji and boiled eggs. These items being slightly spicy are also very tasty. I always loved to eat those items, if I got a chance.
In villages, every occasion or event is cherished with drinks and made memorable. Being happy is an obvious reason to celebrate. To come out of sadness, it is another reason to drink. And many habituated people, of course, drink every day for no reason. On the day of death of a person, people cry so much in sadness. To forget the sorrow, some of the relatives offer toddy to the bereaved family members. It is called ‘Chedu Idavali’ or lose the bitterness. During happy occasions, the host provides the toddy, and during the sad occasions, the guests sponsor the toddy to the bereaved family members.
The agriculture labour called for work in one’s field are given their day’s wage and also get one or two bottles of toddy. This is a common practice, both men and women labourer’s are given toddy. They say only by drinking they could get deep sleep and forget the pains of a day’s hard work and be prepared for the next day’s work. Why ignore or deny a cool farewell to the day, after all so much unpleasant order of daily life despite complaints, curses and struggles, which don’t change immediately. Why ignore or deny a cool farewell to the day, after all so much unpleasant order of daily life despite complaints, curses and struggles, which don’t change immediately. I met an old couple involved in pottery in a village they cook their evening meal by 4:30 p.m. and consume the fresh toddy and sleep before 7 p.m. They woke up early morning by 5:00 a.m. This routine was good for their health and happiness. They are making pottery even in their 80’s.
In rural villages, both women and men work equally. Sometimes women work more than men. Toddy is a family drink in many families, especially among the older generation. In quantity, women won’t drink as much as men. Sometimes a son drinks and takes toddy to the aged parents. It is a kind of respect and honour given to the parents.
After drinks, I saw women speak on par with men. They talk with an open heart with their husbands. There is no hatred in their minds. The jovial mood created by toddy to the whole family makes a day complete.
Of late beer and whiskey is replacing toddy. It is a burden on the people and also not so good for the health of the people consuming it. It benefits only the multi-billion liquor barons and never addresses the social and local environmental issues.
There is a festival called ‘Bonalu’ celebrated in reverence to the Goddess Durga. There are many names to Goddess Durga geographically like Yellamma, Maisamma and Renuka Yellamma. Sacrificing the animals and offering toddy is common in many temples. They pour toddy before the entrance gate of the temple, called ‘Saka Pettadam.’ It is an offering to the deity. They also let the sacrificial animal drink some quantity of toddy before sacrificing it in front of the temple. Probably they don’t want the slaughtered animal to suffer extremely at the time of death.
Kallu Muntha is used for drinking toddy