Mayndala or The Story of Mani Bale

A Tuluva oral legend

The sun had set at its usual hour, and the clear March night was ablaze with stars. The small village, nestled amidst lush paddy fields and swaying plantations of areca and coconut palms, was still awake—and uncharacteristically bright and noisy. A great crowd had gathered in the large field in front of the guthu manne, the grand old house that dominate…