The pleasures of visiting these popular spots were taken away due to the aggressive nature of locals who charged up to Rs. 1500 to ferry tourists to Mandalpatti.
Madikeri :
In order to curb exploitation of tourists by locals who were charging exorbitant charges to ferry them to Mandalpatti, the State Government has now made it mandatory for tourists to obtain permission from the forest department for entry to the Pushpagiri belt of Mandalpatti.
The pleasures of visiting these popular spots were taken away due to the aggressive nature of locals who charged up to Rs. 1500 to ferry tourists to Mandalpatti. While bus routes were drawn to this spot, it was not seen as a convenient option by many tourists who paid over Rs 1,500/- per jeep to reach Mandalpatti from nearly 14 kms away.
Be it one passenger or eight passengers, the charges per jeep remained the same.
This overcharging by locals had been brought to the notice of DC Sreevidya P I, who has laid down strict rules to control the menace.
A meeting was recently held by Sreevidya along with SP Rajendra Prasad who concluded that permissions need to be sought to enter the Pushpagiri belt of Mandalpatti. The DC has also ordered that the jeeps ferrying tourists will be brought under the scanner and Galibeedu village panchayat has been asked to install CCTV cameras at the premises.
No public or private vehicles will be allowed beyond the gates installed by the forest department at Mandalpatti; pedestrians and tourists could trek to the spot (after receiving permission) from the gate instead of travelling in vehicles.
The district administration has also drawn a maximum ferry charge of Rs 300/- per jeep and anyone demanding more money would not be allowed to function in the area.
The forest department is ordered to make sure that no plastic, liquour or other items are carried to the spot by the tourists. Offenders of these rules will be penalized by the Police Department’s Road Transport Authority.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 05th, 2018
It is the time of the year when people in Madikeri throng to purchase crabs and bamboo shoots.
Crabs, bamboo shoots and “Marakesu” have already entered markets in the district.
People consider crab as good for generating heat in the body which helps in braving the chill during monsoon.
The crab sellers collect 30kg to 40kg of crabs from H D Kote, Bheemanahalli and come to Madikeri to sell them. A bundle of crab (12 crabs) are priced at Rs 300. Crab fetches Rs 250 per kg.
In the past, crabs were available in plenty in paddy fields and water bodies. Now in spite of an increase in demand, there are a few people who sell it.
The availability of crabs has also declined, said crab seller Kumar.
Even the tourists who come here during weekends purchase bamboo shoots while returning home. The bamboo shoot is sold for Rs 40 to Rs 50 for half a kg.
The demand for “Marakesu” leaves also increases during the monsoon. The leaves are used for the preparation of “pathrode” and “bajji.”
The monsoon delicacies are served not only at home but at homestays and resorts as well.
There is a good demand for crab curry, crab fry, bamboo shoot pickle and bamboo shoot dry curry, said homestay owner Suyog.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> District / by DH News Service , Madikeri / June 24th, 2018
Swetha Changappa is a Kannada television actress who has acted in numerous tele-serials and films.She debuted her acting career through Sumathi, a serial directed via S. Narayan, aired on Udaya TV all through 2003-2005.
Her fame most of the tv audience of Karnataka reached heights thru her role in Kannada soap Kadambari which changed into produced with the aid of Balaji Telefilms and aired on Udaya TV in 2006.
She acted in lead roles for Sukanya and Arundhathi that have been aired on ETV Kannada (now Colors Kannada )which finally have become bigger hits in 2008 and 2010 respectively.
She additionally hosted TV show Yaariguntu Yaarigilla on Zee Kannada which changed into themed on celebration of spirit of womanhood. She additionally hosted Kuniyonu Baara on Zee Kannada, which changed into a dance show for kids.
Shwetha has also acted in Kannada films, Thangigagi with Darshan Thoogudeep and Varsha with Vishnuvardhan.
source: http://www.theprimetimes.in / Prime Time Media / Home> Hit Video / by Ananthu / June 22nd 2018
Popular serial Muddulakshmi has successfully completed 100 episodes.
The serial which has was started airing from January marked the debut of Actress Anu Poovamma in small screen.
The serial is currently being aired from Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm.
To mark the occasion, a special cake was by the serial team members.
The serial conveys the message of character and values of a person more important than skin color. Lead actress Ashwini suffers humiliation because of her skin colour. Despite all adversities, she fights against social stigmas. She was brought up by her step mother without showing any affection.
On the other hand, Dhruva who is a heart surgeon shows inclination to marry Ashwini. Dhruva’s role is being played by Charith.
Anu has plays the role of aspiring model Aishwarya. Another vital character Adi’s carries a twist from the 100th episode.
Actors Mico Shivu, Vanishree and N T Ramaswamy are seen in pivotal roles.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> TV> News> Kannada / June 14th, 2018
A family of six siblings has reunited after 33 years in Madikeri following an advertisement published in a district newspaper. Anand Nayar and Shekar pose for family reunion picture
Madikeri :
A family of six siblings has reunited after 33 years in Madikeri following an advertisement published in a district newspaper.The two estranged brothers had been living in Mumbai for the past 33 years, assuming that their parents had passed away. They were overjoyed to reunite with their 80-year-old mother who was in tears seeing her two sons after decades.
Anand Nayar, the oldest of six siblings, left Madikeri during the 1980s to find a job in Mumbai. He left behind his parents Kumar and Thangamma, who worked as daily wage labourers in an estate, and five younger siblings. The family had moved to Kodagu from Kerala 50 years ago. Finding a job at a construction company, Anand kept in touch with his parents and siblings via letters.
Shekar, the youngest among the siblings, ran away at the age of 12, following his brother’s footsteps and settled in Mumbai with him. While Anand wrote letters to his family, they became less frequent over time and later stopped altogether. Around the same time, the parents left their old job and moved to a different house.
With no internet or mobile accessibility, the communication between the two brothers and the rest of the family became impossible. Eventually, the two brothers married and settled in Mumbai.Meanwhile, their father Kumar passed away. On his death bed, he had expressed his desire to see his two missing sons. Telegrams were sent to Anand’s old address, only to be returned to the family stating that no such person lived there.
After 33 years of being away from family, Anand wanted to meet his siblings, assuming that his parents might be no more. He, along with Shekar, came to Madikeri two days ago and started looking for his family. “We left Madikeri when it was covered with forests. There were no proper roads, nor electricity. Now, everything has changed and we could not recognise the place we left behind,” said Shekar.
Helpless, they approached a district newspaper to post an advertisement. The advertisement was published following a police search complaint. The next morning, the editor of the newspaper woke up to Anand’s call, who was yelling with joy, “I can’t thank you enough; I have found my mother, brother and sisters because of your newspaper,” said Anand. He had received a call from his sister on a number he had posted on the ad.
Anand and Shekar were reunited with their family in a house near Madikeri Gowda Samaj. Their aged mother, with a joyous smile, said: “I am glad that they came looking for their family before I left this world.” With tearful eyes, she spoke about her two sons and said, “My life cannot get happier than this.” While posing for a family picture, the oldest brother Anand adoringly pulled his sister Prabha beside him and smiled for a family reunion picture.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 20th, 2018
Devara Kadu, or sacred groves, are a binding force between families and different communities of Kodagu district. Of late, encroachments are depleting this forest cover
Rituals being conducted during a Devara Kadu festival
Mangaluru :
Rumbustious, uncut, proud, magnificent trees; a plinth on which idols of folk deities sit alongside miniature terracotta sculptures of cattle, a harmless silence taken over by tweets of birds and insects – welcome to Devara Kadu temples situated amidst thick, unkempt forests of Kodagu. Ecological havens in every village of the district, Devara Kadu or the sacred groves are a binding force between families and different communities of the district.
The Malnad region is dotted with such sacred grooves. While Devara Kadu fall under the protected forests, they are treated as sacrosanct by the people resulting in the prohibition of felling, lopping or clearing of trees and even weeds. Light, water, air, earth, wind – the five elements — are glorified at these abodes of nature and paganism (nature worship) is revered and celebrated once a year at these groves.
‘Kadu Aiyappa’ is one of the ancient deities worshiped at Devara Kadu. “He (Kadu Aiyappa) chose solitude and a simplistic life in the wild, which is why he is till date worshiped amidst the virgin forests,” explains historian Bacharaniyanda Appanna.
Kottialu Eshwara Devara Kadu at Garakeri
Bhadrakali, Bhagavathi, Naga, Aiyappa, Eshwara, Ajappa are the common deities worshipped in Devara Kadu and each deity has a folk story connecting them closely to the villagers. The folk deities are revered as protectors and guardians of villages they are nestled at. “The place of Hathur, which is on Gonikoppal-Mysuru highway, has been a witness to many accidents. But these accidents have not killed a single person as Goddess Vana Bhadrakali of Hathur Devara Kadu, has protected them all,” says Kokkanda Belliappa, a villager of Hathur who like others here believes in the power of the Goddess.
Currently, there are nearly 1,214 Devara Kadu in Kodagu covering an area of 4,614 hectares and, 18 native communities are involved in worshiping 165 folk deities. “There have been a lot of encroachments. The deities are not as feared as before leading to these encroachments. However, the forest department is vigilant towards these offenders and we have taken several measures against such encroaches,” explains DFO Manjunath.
Nevertheless, in the past decade, Devara Kadu have been reduced to less than 9,000 acres from the original 15,000 acres, according to a survey on Devara Kadu.The ‘Devara Kadu Habba’ or the sacred grove festival, which takes place mostly between April and July (some annually and others biannually), is helping preserve the groves. “The ‘Eeroli Bana’ at Thaaka village of Cherambane is a Devara Kadu of Lord Aiyappa and is spread over 800 acres. It is believed that Kadu Aiyappa Swamy had stayed at this grove for two days. The grove is highly revered by the villagers and the fear of god is still existent, which has prevented encroachments. During the annual Devara Kadu festival, the villagers take a holy dip at the stream flowing in the grove. Entry to this grove is banned otherwise. A team of medical students had visited the grove in 1982 to conduct some research, but they could not proceed into the grove after a certain point,” says Appanna, a villager.
During the Devara Kadu festivals, the virgin groves echo with the praise of the deities. The spirit dance, sacrifices, ex-voto offerings (an offering given in order to fulfil a vow), grandeur god dance are just a few highlights. Prema, a resident of Hathur village, enters the Devara Kadu of Vana Bhadrakali with a trident. She explains, “I am offering the trident to the goddess as a thanks-giving for granting my wishes. People offer cattle to the goddess too.” The spirits of the folk deities are invited into the human body and these spirits listen to the problems of the villagers and provide solutions. The spirits also offer guidance to the village heads to help lead the village towards betterment, the villagers believe.
Even though Kodagu has one sacred grove for every 300 acres, the highest in the state, the groves are still depleting. The pressure of economic returns from plantations has resulted in their depletion. Yet, to some extent, the spiritual connections with these ecological havens are keeping them alive.
History
Granting of sacrosanct status to forests dates back to the Indus Valley civilisation. In Kodagu, kings considered a stretch of forest sacred and cared for the folk deity who in return protected his land. Devara Kadu of Kodagu falls under the tropical evergreen forest belt
Beliefs
Felling, lopping, clearing of fallen branches, plucking of weeds, pruning or burning of trees is prohibited in Devara Kadus. It is believed that offenders will be punished with death by the folk deity. Spirit dance, sacrifice, ex-voto offerings are common practices followed during Devara Kadu festivals.
Depletion
In all, 15,000 acres of Devara Kadu have today reduced to less than 9,000 acres due to continuous encroachments reported in the past decade. Immigration and economic returns are seen as major causes for encroachments.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / June 17th, 2018
Khadi Dupatta by Dastkar Andhra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It is all about khadi at the Dastkar Andhra Exhibition
Khadi will be presented in all its glory with yardage, saris and dupattas at the Dastkar Andhra Exhibition at Serenity boutique from June 19 to 23. The yardage in khadi will be of two types — handspun or hand-woven and handloom, but contains mill-spun yarn and is hand woven. Dastkar Andhra uses natural and environmentally friendly dyes for its products.
“It is authentic, it is comfortable,” says Arati Monappa, of Serenity Boutique. “I am a textile designer. I also use it in my line. It is a beautiful product to work with. You don’t have to starch it. You can accessorise it, you can embroider on it, you can make any kind of embellishment. And it has some meaning behind it, and I think that makes a very big difference, apart from the comfort factor.”
Serenity is a not-for-profit venture that focuses on uplifting artisans and selling eco-friendly products. “We support Dastkar Andhra because their whole marketing strategy is democratic, participative and equitable. They guarantee 365 days of work to their weavers. The profits are equitably distributed. They are working with co-operatives. We don’t want to let this industry die; especially that of handwoven khadi.”
Latha Tummuru, who is organizing the event, works with Dastkar Andhra Marketing Association, which works with 22 cooperatives and over 500 weavers across 22 villages in seven districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. For her, the importance of the exhibit is in promoting hand woven cloth to the urban customer. “We believe that these people are already skilled. We just need to provide them with employment so that they can use their skills sitting in the village. Otherwise, they migrate to cities and become unskilled. Our organisation intervenes to make sure products come in the form that people can use. The innovations are in the fabric and the dupattas. Traditionally, weavers only make saris and dhotis.”
She believes that the dupattas and the wide variety of yardage will be some of the popular products at the exhibition. The Ponduru Khadi sari is another product that is frequently asked about. “We look forward to popularising handlooms, which I have always been passionate about,” says Arati.
The Dastkar Andhra exhibition will take place at the Serenity Boutique in Jayamahal Extension from June 19 to 23. For details, call 4127 9127.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Bengaluru / by Priya Saraf / June 18th, 2018
The entrance of the memorial will be dedicated to Kodava culture and will host various traditional artifacts including ‘peecha .kathi’, daggers and other arms
Bengaluru :
If you approach ‘Sunnyside’ in Madikeri town, you will be welcomed by a larger-than-life boot of a soldier and a battle tank at the door. “Sunnyside” was the residence of General K S Thimayya and had been waiting for a year for the renovations that have just kicked-off.
The house which previously housed the RTO office, is now being renovated and re-named as ‘General Thimayya Memorial’ with an aim to retell the story of the General, the hero of Kodagu and the nation and will depict each phase of his life.
The entrance of the memorial will be dedicated to Kodava culture and will host various traditional artifacts including ‘peecha kathi’, daggers and other arms. The other rooms of the house will depict the General’s childhood days, his lifestyle, and his days in the army. “The visitors will be welcomed into the memorial by an audio recording, dubbed by Belliappa, the grandson of General Thimayya, whose voice resembles his grandfather’s,” explains the memorial’s convener Major (retd) Nanjappa.
The project of renovating ‘Sunnyside’ has begun with work on the interiors currently in progress.
For the project, which will be completed in another six months, getting to this stage of renovation had not been smooth. Major Nanjappa, appointed as the convener a decade ago, has been constantly in touch with the authorities, that kept on changing over the years, to get the project moving forward.
Army General Bipin Rawat has promised to give two boffer weapons to the memorial.y
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 14th, 2018
