In December 2024, a few Kodava devotees dressed in traditional attire were allegedly stopped from entering Kattemadu Maha Mrityunjaya Temple in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.

The bench observed that a communication made to the Madikeri taluk tahsildar by the revenue officer stated that during temple celebrations between December 23 and 27 last year, some people in traditional Kodava attire were prevented from entering the temple. (File photo)

In an interim order, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the authorities at the Kattemadu Maha Mrityunjaya Temple in Kodagu district to permit entry to “any person wearing traditional clothes which are decent enough”. The court was hearing a petition over how certain new dress rules had resulted in members of the Kodava community being prevented from entering the temple in their traditional attire.

“The concerned office bearers of the second respondent temple/society are hereby directed not to prevent any person wearing traditional clothes which are decent enough,” a single-judge bench of Justice R Devdas said on Wednesday. The matter will now be heard on February 27.

In December 2024, a few Kodava devotees dressed in their traditional attire were allegedly stopped from entering the temple. This incident prompted two men, from Virajpet and Madikeri, respectively, to file a petition before the high court.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that the society registered in 2024 to manage the temple was disturbing local peace and tranquillity with the new bylaws it instituted. The counsel argued that while a direction against scanty clothing, along with a direction to wear customary Indian clothing, was understandable, people wearing traditional Kodava attire were also being prevented from entering the temple under the current bylaws.

The petitioners prayed for quashing the specific bylaw as being violative of fundamental rights, sought a stay on the registration of the temple society, and a stay on the bylaw preventing Kodavas from carrying out worship in their traditional clothing.

The bench observed that a communication made to the Madikeri taluk tahsildar by the revenue officer stated that during temple celebrations between December 23 and 27 last year, some people in traditional Kodava attire were prevented from entering the temple.

Passing an interim order in the matter, the court stated, “Having regard to the objectives of the Society at paragraph No.4 and more particularly, Clause (7), it does not state that no person wearing traditional attire can enter the temple premises. Nevertheless, if the office bearers of the society are preventing any person who is wearing traditional attire and decent enough from entering the temple premises, such action will be arbitrary and opposed to public policy.”

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> English> edition> India / February 14th, 2025

K.K. Gangadharan (76), a native of Aiguru village in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district, passed away on Jan. 19 at his residence in Bengaluru. He leaves behind his wife, one son and a host of relatives and friends.

A recipient of Kendra Sahitya Academy award from Karnataka last year for his book ‘Malayalam Kathegalu,’ Gangadharan had translated over 200 Malayalam stories and four novels into Kannada, besides a few Tamil and English stories. His translated works were being published in various Kannada magazines including Sudha, Mayura, Taranga, Roopathara, Mangala, etc.

He had served in Mysuru’s Railway Mail Service (RMS) of the Postal Department for several years before being transferred to Bengaluru, where he spent his retired life, according to family sources.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / January 21st, 2025

Madikeri:

The Kutta to Madikeri “Kodavaame Baalo” foot march, led by the Akhila Kodava Samaja, successfully concluded in Madikeri yesterday.

This peaceful protest aimed to highlight the social, religious, and political challenges faced by the Kodava community while emphasising the need to preserve its distinct traditions and identity.

Under the leadership of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, several Kodava organisations, including the Federation of Kodava Samajas, Kodava Sahitya Academy, United Kodava Organisation, Codava National Council, Kodavamera Kondaata, Jabbhoomi Baalo, Kodava Speaking Native Communities Association, Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing and Kodava Riders Club, extended their support                                to the cause.

The march, culminated at the Kodava Samaja Mandh, near the General K.S. Thimayya District Stadium (Manns Compound), Madikeri. Dressed in traditional attire, Kodava men and women from across the region participated with utmost discipline.

Thousands of community members gathered as a memorandum listing key demands was formally submitted to Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja.

The DC commended the community for completing the 6-day peaceful foot march without any untoward incidents. He assured that the memorandum would be forwarded to the Central and State Governments and that the District Administration would take necessary legal measures within its jurisdiction to address the demands.

Key demands in the memorandum

The memorandum called for immediate action on the following:

• The Kodava community, being a highly sensitive and small minority, requires urgent Constitutional protection for its land, water, culture, traditions, religious practices and social security.
• The right of Kodava Jamma landholders to possess firearms must continue without any hindrance.
• Political oppression by dominant communities over the small minority Kodava community must be curtailed.
• Strict action should be taken against the mockery and misuse of Kodava cultural traditions, attire, ornaments and rituals, along with any acts that provoke the sentiments of the community.
• The insulting remarks against Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa and General Kodandera S. Thimayya, two of the country’s greatest soldiers, simply for being Kodavas, should be taken seriously. A thorough investigation must be conducted, and strict action, including banishment from the district, should be taken against the culprit.
• Steps must be taken to prevent disturbances to the Kodava community’s participation in Talacauvery rituals and to take strict action against vested interests causing unrest.
• Measures must be implemented to ensure that Kodava culture is respected in all religious places in Kodagu. The Government must ensure a free and safe atmosphere for Kodavas to practice their traditions on their own land.
• The renaming of the Mahadeva Temple at Kattemad village as Maha Mrithyunjaya Temple is an act of deliberate provocation, aimed at creating discord among indigenous Kodava and Kodava-speaking communities. The main culprits must be  identified and held accountable.
• The inaction against those who attacked Kodavas and attempted to restrict their cultural attire is unacceptable. Legal action must be taken against the perpetrators, and arrests must be made. Until this is done, Kodava community members will refuse to participate in any peace process initiated by the administration.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / February 08th, 2025

Walk ends tomorrow at Kodava Samaja Mandh, General K.S. Thimayya Stadium

Madikeri:

The fifth day of the 82-km ‘Kodavaame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march from Kutta to Madikeri aimed at preserving the unique culture and traditions of the Kodava community and Kodava language-speaking groups, began this morning from Nellimani near Murnad.

Since its launch on Feb. 2, the march has gained momentum, with thousands of men, women, and children clad in traditional attire joining in. More participants continue to pour in from villages along the route, turning the event into a large-scale cultural movement.

The march began from Kutta on Feb. 2 and reached T. Shettigeri on the first day. On Feb. 3, it continued to Ponnampet, and on Feb. 4, the marchers walked from Ponnampet to Bittangala via Gonikoppa. Last evening, they reached Bethri village in Madikeri Taluk, covering 62.8 km and halting at Nellimani.

The fourth day’s march passed through Virajpet Taluk Centre, Kadanoor (Kakkabe road junction), Kakotuparambu, Bethri, and concluded at Nellimani. Kodava community members from Madikeri Taluk welcomed the marchers from South Kodagu at the bridge over the River Cauvery at Bethri.

On the fifth day today, the march started from Nellimani, passing through Murnad, Hakkattur, and Kaggodlu, and will reach Mekeri village. On the sixth and final day, Feb. 7 (tomorrow), the march will reach Madikeri from Mekeri in the morning.

Massive crowd expected tomorrow

The rally will conclude with the submission of a memorandum to the State Government through the Kodagu district administration at the Madikeri Kodava Samaja Mandh, located in General K.S. Thimayya Stadium and Grounds (Mann’s Compound).

With hundreds of vehicles expected to arrive in Madikeri tomorrow, organisers are coordinating with authorities to arrange parking facilities in various locations across Madikeri and have already drawn the district administration’s attention to the need for designated parking areas.

Kodavas and Kodava speakers from the remotest corners of Kodagu have decided to head to Madikeri, while those residing in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other cities for employment, education, and other reasons have also committed to participating in the final leg of the march.

Massive participation is expected from Bengaluru and Mysuru, with many already booking buses and taxis. Over 70 buses and 28 TT vehicles have been booked for those travelling from Bengaluru under the leadership of various Kodava organisations.

From Mysuru, over 25 buses and tempos have been booked for participants. Participants are being urged to opt for rented vehicles rather than private ones to avoid traffic congestion and to move as a unified group.

Almost all rental vehicles in Kodagu have been booked and due to high demand, additional vehicles have been arranged from Kerala, as well as from Hunsur and Periyapatna. In addition to private bus arrangements,  50 KSRTC buses have also been booked.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 06th, 2025