The rooster with a back story

Spotting the Barcelos Rooster in Bandra

You need to crane your neck to spot this good looking fellow

One of my favourite houses in Bandra is Olpers. It’s a mix of stunning details, all very well maintained. I can never pass the house, without stopping to stare. But the cherry on top, literally, is the rooster. And the legend that goes with it.

Olpers

The story goes that sometime in the 15th century, in a town called Barcelos in Portugal, an unsolved crime created an environment of fear and suspicion among the people. And it was under these circumstances, that a poor pilgrim who had wandered into the town, was accused of stealing.

He protested and explained that he was an innocent pilgrim, but was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging.

Thankfully, he was no chicken (#sorrynotsorry), because he insisted he had to see the judge who passed the sentence, before they could hang him.

So he was taken to the judge’s house. And the judge was enjoying his meal, which consisted of a cooked rooster. The pilgrim pleaded with him, but the judge was not convinced.

Finally, the pilgrim went quiet and looked the judge in the eye, and stated that when he was hung, the cooked rooster would crow, and proclaim his innocence to everyone.

He was taken away. And lucky for him, the judge lost his appetite and put away the cooked rooster. Because just as the pilgrim was executed, the rooster stood up on the table and crowed.

The judge realising mistake, rushed to the pilgrim. Luckily, the man was still alive, thanks to a badly made knot. The judge set him free. And probably ordered in dinner for himself.

It’s a legendary story of never giving up, even when you are faced with the toughest challenge of your life. And that’s probably why the Barcelos Rooster in its many forms is displayed with great pride in Portugal.

You’ll also find it atop roofs in Goa. Again, there could be a more pactical reason of filling the spot where two or three panels of the roof join, but I like to think there’s more to it.

I haven’t seen any other house with a rooster on top in bandra. If you have seen anything, that’s still there or was there, let me know. Till then, say hello to the rooster at Olpers, and I’m leaving you with a picture of my favourite live rooster who lives in Chuim village.