The Town of Daren in Connecticut,USA,and Marcara in Coorg,India have been Sister towns since 1954 . This enduring relationship between the two municipalities with totally divergent backgrounds has lasted for more than fifty years . As Part of the golden jubilee celebrations, six families from Connecticut visited Coorg during 2004 .

Being a Member of the Darin Mercara Association,We offered to host one of the visiting couples in our home . Our Maid was all excited about the foreign visitors . We Welcomed our American Guests on arrival at our place,and as they entered the house my wife asked our visibly overawed maid to wish the guests.Both the middle aged gentleman and his wife were tall, Blond and blue eyed. Traditionally,People in Coorg greet elders in the community by touching their feet three times . Our Star Struck maid suddenly dived at the feet of the Lady . The Lady was quite taken aback and asked us why the maid touched her feet.We hadn't expected this spontaneous response from our over enthusiastic maid,either. All we anticipated from her was to say a simple 'Nameaste'.

My wife then explained to the rather flummoxed Americans that this is how we greeted our guests in Coorg . The Lady's face lit up and she was more impressed .'What a wondrful custom' she exclaimed;and before we could say the Proverbial 'Jack Robinson',She returned the compliment by touching the feet of our stunned maid--three times!