Karnataka   

Fostering Kodava culture, sports

Tradition: Residents of several villages taking out a procession before offering puja at the ‘mand’ at Mandalpatti in Kodagu on Sunday.

Mandalpatti (Kodagu District): The residents of the villages in “Elnad Surlabbi”, as the “nad” (group of villages) is called in the local parlance, are in complete harmony with nature.

On Sunday morning, residents of Mukkodlu, Hachinad, Hammiyala, Mutlu, Galibeedu, Kalur and surrounding villages assembled here at the “mand”, the place of religious congregation of the Kodavas, to participate in the annual sports and cultural meet in their inimitably humble manner.

Men attired in traditional Kodava “kupya” (dark overcoat), “chale” (brocade around waist), “mandetuni” (turban), and “peechekathi” (knife inserted in a protective sheath) tucked into the brocade, and women dressed in typical Kodava sari and head scarves, lent a unique aura to the show.

Enthusiastic men, women and children started pouring into Mandalpatti, which was witness to the 12th annual sports and cultural meet.

Convener of the Kodagu Western Ghats Inhabitants Liberation Organisation Kalachanda Ravi Thammaiah has been instrumental in organising the residents of villages every year. The organisation has been fighting for securing basic amenities to the villages since the last 14 years. The show was inaugurated by the former corporator of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Satyanarayan Rao Jadav, after Mr. Thammaiah offered “puja” at the “mand”.

“Tengepor” (fight for snatching a coconut) for boys and girls stole the show. Motorcycle races were exhilarating as people watched with awe the speed and control of the riders. Volleyball matches and road race for all categories and musical chair for presspersons added glitter to the event. The former president of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy Bacharaniyanda P. Appanna, who presided over the function, lauded the people of “Elnad Surlabbi” for fostering the Kodava culture without diluting any aspect of it. “The cultural granary of the Kodavas is replete here,” he said. The “Ummathat” by women and “Bolakkat” by men were displayed with religious fervour. Mr. Appanna advocated the idea of introducing ancient Kodava sports, “Shaktipor” for men and “Dariyambu” for women next year.

Other guests who spoke were Mr. Jadav, Kootanda Bojamma from Polibetta in Kodagu and Karunakar from Mysore. Premnath Poonja, a planter, and Ramachandra and Ashok from Bangalore were the other guests.

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