Pinguli
P
inguli is a small village in Kudal Taluka mainly known for Chitrakathi and 10 other Lok kalas practiced by the people of Thakar community who reside there. Pinguli is 3km away from the Kudal railway station. The roads are well connected and one can easily hire an auto or car to reach their destination. The traces of long artistic and cultural background attract a lot of students and tourists.
People: Marathi is spoken by majority of the people residing in Kudal. Even the Thakars from Pinguli are fluent in Marathi but their mother tongue is a dialect of Malvani. Hindi, Kannada, English and Konkani are also understood by a few of them. The people in general ar e ver y rooted and traditional and therefore most of the women still wear lugdas or choli or sari and the men are seen wearing dhoti or kurta with a topi. A major chunk of people still live in the villages where the walls of houses are plastered with cowdung and have sloping roofs. The Thakar community of pinguli village is one that is deeply connected to their culture. Food: Considering this place falls under the Konkan region, it offers a variety of local preparations which are rich and distinct in their own way. The malvani cuisine is famous around the region. The fier y fish curries dominate the cuisine. They use coconut base in almost all their dishes. They are either cooked in coconut milk or have a coconut paste or are garnished with grated coconut. Their kombdi vada is quiet popular in Maharashtra. No meal in this region is complete without “ Sol Kadi �,a pink coloured appetizer drink made from kokum fruit and coconut milk which helps in digestion. The vegetarians can feast on simple yet delicious vegetables prepared in a coconut base. And the summer speciality of the area are its world famous mangoes which are not to be missed if you happen to swing by the Konkan region.
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Top: A milkman passing by early in the morning. Middle: A child at Sundar Homestay. Bottom: Poha and bananas served with sev for breakfast at the homestay.