Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Book Review: Chikaveera Rajendra (A Kannda Novel)

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

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Chikka Veerarajendra was the last king of Kodagu (Coorg) before it fell into British hands.

This book provides a picturesque account of life and time of the ruler, cultural preferences of Kodava community (the locals), gods worshipped by them, and their attitude towards the rulers.

Chikka Veera Rajendra, a spoilt prince has only one confidant in kunta (lame) Basava and when he becomes king, he makes Basava his minister not to support him in administration but to make arrangements for his whims.

The kingdom is mostly run by his other two ministers, Bopanna and Lakshminarayanaiah, while the king is busy fulfilling his bodily needs, leaving no money in treasury and acting cruelly when forced to take decisions. While the public in general dislike their ruler, a balancing act is done by the queen, making correcting efforts wherever possible to protect the interests of her family and the kingdom.

The king has a sister, Devammaji and her husband Chennabasavaiah who is interested in dethroning the king and taking power into his hands by making his wife the ruler. Becoming aware of this plan, the king puts his sister in captivity but releases her later as per requests from the queen, his daughter and a priest, Dikshit who advises the same.

Devammaji delivers a baby boy after her release and her husband devises a plan to run away from the clutches of the king and seek help from the British in dethroning the king. While he puts this plan to work, the couple in a hurry loses their baby on the way and it reaches the hands of the king and the palace. The king receives letters from the British to return the baby to his parents but he refuses to do so and in an act of madness, he kills the baby.

This incident causes a revolt in his administration who could not tolerate evil deeds of the king anymore and the opportunist British too come down with a force to attack. The turnout of events leads to capture of the king by the British and Kodagu being annexed into the British administration.

After losing the kingdom and being deported from Kodagu, life of Veerarajendra continues, he lives on the compensation fund he receives from the British. His wife meets death on the pilgrimage and his daughter marries a British, goes on to live in London.

This historical novel won the author the prestigious literary honor Jnanapith award in 1983. This hardbound book also provides the images of paintings and historical photographs, and descriptions of references to the history and also about the life of the celebrated author Masti Venkatesha Iyengar.

source: http://www.booksmarketsandplaces.blogspot.in / by Anand Maralad / Monday – August 18th, 2014

Ashwini Ponnappa ties the knot

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinion
SHEER JOY Badminton ace Ashwini Ponnappa (right) and Karan Medappa tied the nuptial knot in Ammatti on Sunday. DH PHOTO
SHEER JOY Badminton ace Ashwini Ponnappa (right) and Karan Medappa tied the nuptial knot in Ammatti on Sunday. DH PHOTO

Indian badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa entered a new phase of her life after marrying model Ponnachettira Karan Medappa at the Kodava Samaja, Ammatti, on Sunday.

The marriage rituals were held as per the Kodava tradition. Ashwini was draped in a traditional Kodava saree and Karan was dressed in ‘Kuppasa Datti’.

The wedding reception was held in Serenity Hall, Virajpet, on Sunday evening.

Tennis player Rohan Bopanna and squash player Jyotsna Chinnappa were among the sports stars who attended the function.

Ashwini had announced her engagement to Karan in November via an Instagram post.

Ashwini said she would continue her involvement in sports even after marriage.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / by DH News Service / Siddapur – December 24th, 2017

Coffee holidays: Unwind in nature’s lap with a hot cuppa

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment

Karnataka, which accounts for over 70% of India’s total coffee production, is betting big on tourism around its coffee.

The last chunk of rainforest coffee on this planet is in India and grows along the Western Ghats covering Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. (Photo: DC)
The last chunk of rainforest coffee on this planet is in India and grows along the Western Ghats covering Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. (Photo: DC)

Bengaluru :

Karnataka, which accounts for over 70% of India’s total coffee production, is betting big on tourism around its coffee.

The last chunk of rainforest coffee on this planet is in India and grows along the Western Ghats covering Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka’s coffee gardens are a haven for wildlife, dozens of rare bird species, some 50 different types of tress apart from natural flora and fauna.
State Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge said a wide variety of farm and home stay options are available across coffee areas of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Sakleshpur and Baba Budan Giri (a mountain where first ever coffee in the country was grown in 1670), and Mullayanagiri (the highest coffee growing peek in Chikkamagaluru).

Kharge said, “We’ve recently eased a lot of restrictions around farm tourism and home stays, by decreasing the home stay registration fee to Rs 500 from Rs 10,000. We have also introduced additional incentives to encourage entrepreneurship in coffee tourism. We received home-stay registration requests from over 700 coffee farmers and estates in the last two months.”

Some of the activities promoted under coffee tourism include nature trails, trekking, pulping, bean plucking, drying, curing, roasting and grinding the coffee.

In addition, coffee lands offer amazing landscapes with unique culture and cuisines, he said.

Anil Kumar Bhandari president of Indian Coffee Trust said, “Corporates and real estate firms are eager to swallow huge chunks of coffee lands to build resorts, but coffee farmers with the help of the tourism department are trying to keep such elements out.”

Only individuals and families who are living in Karnataka for a minimum period of 15 years will be eligible for home stay licences.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> In Other News / by Mini Tejaswi / December 23rd, 2017

Shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa weds model Karan Medappa today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

International badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa’s marriage with model Karan Medappa, is being held in Kodagu district of Karnataka on Sunday.

The entire event is being held as per Kodava customs.

In the morning, as per custom, ‘Eka Muhurtha’ was held at Kodava Samja, Ammathi, Virajapet taluk on Sunday.

The celebrations will continue from 6 pm as per the ‘Dampathi Muhartha’ custom

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States / by DH News Service / Kodagu – December 24th, 2017

I became so fluent in Malayalam that people now believe I can dub: Harshika

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

HarshikaKF21dec2017

Harshika Poonacha and her gang of giggling friends were coming out of a coffee shop when a man accosted her and wanted to know if she was interested in playing the heroine in his forthcoming movie.

Then a Class 10 student, Harshika was certain that he was a prankster and not a filmmaker, and didn’t bother to reply. But her friends told him that she was a dancer, head of their cultural team and that if he was serious about the offer, he should talk to her dad at her house, not far from where they were.

This was how the schoolgirl got catapulted to the world of movies through the Kannada film PUC — it was no trickster who made the offer but filmmaker Ramesh who was looking for a girl of her age group to do the lead role. In the next two years, however, she concentrated on her studies, and during her engineering course, she balanced studies and films so amazingly well that she not only passed her course with distinction but also established her foothold in the Kannada industry.

“I had offers from software biggies but I had to make a choice between films and a corporate job and I chose the former,” says Harshika, who has been shooting in Kochi for Charminar, her debut film in Malayalam.

After spending a month in Kochi and shooting in the city as well as Thrissur, she is literally gushing about Mollywood and says that she is sure to miss the industry as well as Kochi now that they have wrapped up the shoot. Originally from Coorg, she can speak several languages and she has added Malayalam to the list. “I speak so fluently that they now say that I am ready for dubbing,” she says.

Harshika plays a Malayali girl settled in Bengaluru in the movie directed by Ajith C Lokesh and her co-stars are Ashwin Kkumar, who played the villain in Jacobinte Swargarajyam, and Hemanth Menon.

“Charminar is a love story but there is a suspense that is linked to the title, so I can’t reveal more about the plot,” says the actress, who is looking forward to acting in more Malayalam films.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment> Malayalam> Movies> News / by Sujit Chandrakumar / TNN / December 17th, 2017

CNC observes Thok Namme

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
Codava National Council President N U Nachappa offers prayers to firearms as a part of Thok Namme, at an estate in Kolakere near Napoklu on Monday.
Codava National Council President N U Nachappa offers prayers to firearms as a part of Thok Namme, at an estate in Kolakere near Napoklu on Monday.

Codava National Council observed Thok Namme at an estate in Kolakere near Napoklu on Monday.

Speaking after offering prayers to firearms, CNC President N U Nachappa said that ‘Thok Namme’ (Gun Carnival) is organised to highlight the significance that guns represent in Kodava culture and life. “Possessing firearms is a right of the Kodavas.

It is also a religious and cultural symbol of the Kodavas.

The programme is being conducted in order to create awareness on the constitutional rights of Kodavas to own a gun. The programme also features mass worship of guns and aims to pass the message to the government that the possession of a gun is a birthright of a Kodava,” he said.

Nine resolutions, including urging the government to recognise the importance of guns in Kodava culture were passed on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service / Napoklu – December 18th, 2017

Saviruchi mobile canteen to hit roads in Kodagu soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
The mobile 'Saviruchi' canteen.
The mobile ‘Saviruchi’ canteen.

The ‘Saviruchi’ mobile canteen, run by Sthree Shakthi Okkuta, will hit the roads in Kodagu shortly.

The canteen will offer breakfast and afternoon meals.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his budget 2017-18, had announced the launch of the ‘Saviruchi’ canteen. Accordingly, the canteen will start functioning in all the 30 district headquarters by December end or January 15.

The ‘Jilla Sthree Shakthi Mahila Okkuta’, comprising women, has been formed in each district to run the canteen. The federation members themselves will run the canteen. Each federation will be given loan of Rs 10 lakh by Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation to purchase specially-designed vehicle, utensils and as working capital, said Women and Child Development deputy director Mumthaz. The federation has to repay the loan within 60 months.

Along with breakfast and meals, they can also prepare tea, coffee, snacks and fruit juice for sale. Measures will be taken to sell even “sandige,” pickle, and masala in the canteen.

The 10-member team of the federation has already availed two-day training in management of the canteen along with maintaining hygiene.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service / Madikeri – December 17th, 2017

Asia’s first woman coffee taster was nearly ‘brewed’ out

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

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Bengaluru :

Asia’s first lady of coffee Sunalini Menon says she never planned on being a coffee-taster. She says that she decided on a course in Dietetics or a Phd. in Foods, when she chanced upon an advertisement calling for Assistant Cup tasters at the Coffee Board of India. “I had tried tea tasting as a child at an uncle’s tea estate in Munnar and the ad brought back happy memories of sipping, slurping, spitting and looking wise. I applied for the post and was called for the interview.”

She had to compete with eight men with more experience and qualifications, and that was her first job interview. Sunalini came first in the written and oral tests.

Sunalini, Asia’s first woman coffee taster, says, that the internal panel of examiners were not too keen to appoint her because she was young, had no knowledge about coffee and was a woman who could get married and give up the assignment. “But the then chairman of the Coffee Board was insistent that gender should not come in the way of a job and that as I had topped the interview, that I should rightfully be given the assignment.” Sunalini then joined the Coffee Board of India in 1972.

It wasn’t easy working at the Coffee Board of India, she says. She was the only woman at the officer’s cadre level in the Board then. “The staff working under me refused to accept my instructions or the schedule I had set for work, they were not used to taking instructions from a woman,” she says. “Fortunately, I had a chief who took me under his wing and advised me to first learn the subject and give them time to accept me. His parting words were ‘Tread slowly, but firmly’.”

The in-house training she was given was intense. Every day, she would taste washed arabicas, unwashed arabicas, washed robustas and unwashed robustas, to understand the various nuances in a cup.
Also, a founder trustee of the Women’s Coffee Alliance – India Chapter, Sunalini was present at the Coffee Santhe held recently at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat. She says, “This is our annual fund raiser to help empower women coffee-plantation workers and their girl children.”

Coffee tasting is both a science and an art

While carrying out coffee tasting, there is a protocol that one needs to follow. The attributes that are evaluated in the cup are fragrance, which is the smell of the coffee powder in the dry state, and aroma, which is the smell in the wet state, when water is added to the powder. During the aroma evaluation, the crust (floating particles on the surface of liquor or the brew prepared for tasting and all the aromatic volatiles) is broken. With“Breaking of Crust”, fragrance, aroma and the other attributes are evaluated for flavour, aftertaste, acidity, mouthfeel, uniformity, balance, cleanliness, sweetness and, finally, the overall rating of the cup.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Akhila Damodaran / Express News Service / December 08th, 2017

On the happiness lane

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Uncategorized
Harshika Poonacha
Harshika Poonacha

Actor Harshika Poonacha began her career at the age of 15 in the Kannada film industry. She has acted in all the Southern language industries. Harshika is remembered for her memorable performances ‘Jackie’ with Puneeth Rajkumar, ‘Thamassu’ with Shivarajkumar and Yash, ‘Advaitha’ with Ajai Rao and ‘Crazyloka’ with V Ravichandran in Kannada. She has also worked on a few projects in Telugu and Tamil languages. She won the State Award for ‘Best Actress’ for ‘Thamassu’. She has also made an appearance in ‘Big Boss’ with actor Sudeep and ‘Super Minute’ with actor Ganesh. Harshika will soon be seen playing interesting roles in ‘Chitte’ in Kannada and ‘Charminar’ in Malayalam.

“I usually never get a weekend all to myself but whenever I do, I make the best of it. My tight work schedule makes it impossible for me to indulge in things that I enjoy doing, so weekends give me a chance to take a break from the routine and spend time with my family and friends. I make sure that I don’t rush through the weekend and take time to enjoy whatever I am doing.

I am a huge movie buff. There have been weekends when I have watched at least four movies in a day. I have learnt a lot about acting and the art of making films just by watching movies. There are a few actors whose style and work is worth emulating. I admire Urmila Matondkar for her ‘oomph factor’ and I have even made videos of her songs. I also enjoy watching the movies of Madhuri Dixit Nene and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Weekends are the time I slip into a lazy mode. Some of my Saturdays start with an early morning run and a round of swimming at a club. This sets the tone for an eventful weekend.

I try to pack in a lot of variety into my weekends. I enjoy doing up the interiors of my home and adding colour to every corner. I shop for home decor and sometimes change the cover of the couch and the wall paint as well. I do this to overcome the monotony of being in familiar surroundings.

I love automobiles. I picked up a passion for bikes and cars from my father. I still cherish the days when I was taken on short rides by my father and I would be so eager to hold the handle of the bike and steer it. My father too wouldn’t hesitate to let me hold it. I now own a bike and I ride it occasionally.

Cooking is another favourite pastime during the weekend. I don’t mean to praise myself but I am a good cook and an experimental one at that. I make ‘Mutton biryani’ and ‘Ghee rice’ with ‘Chicken curry’, mutton and liver preparations in Coorgi style. In the sweets category, I make ‘Mysore Pak’, ‘Holige’, ‘Kaju Barfi’ and ‘Gulab jamuns’. I don’t believe in going by the recipe book but do my own research for some interesting recipes. My mother and aunt have helped me develop an interest in cooking.

I am not a party person and have a handful of close friends. I hang out a lot with Reshma Kunhi. She’s my best friend and I enjoy spending time with her. My friends and I usually go out for movies and wrap up our outings with a dinner. And if we are in a mood for some desserts, then we head straight to J W Marriott. They have the finest of midnight desserts.

I try to make time for all the things that I love doing on weekends because it makes me feel happy and stay positive.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Nina C. George / DH News Service / December 07th, 2017

Kolata lends colour to Huthari fest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Women perform Ummathat.
Women perform Ummathat.

The traditional Kolata performed after the Huthari festival was held across Kodagu district on Monday.

The Kolata organised by Omkareshwara Temple Committee and Kodava and Arebhashe families was attended by hundreds of people.

The members presented “Ummathat”, “Bolakat”, “Kolata” and “Pariyakali” on the occasion. The tourists were seen enjoying the traditional Kolata and other dances of Kodagu at the Fort premises.

Legislator K G Bopaiah was seen dancing to the tune of traditional Valaga.

Speaking on the occasion, Bopaiah said, “Huthari has its own history in Kodagu district. Kolata has been observed from time immemorial in the district.”

Kodava land
To a query on Kodava land, the MLA said, “Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy had not raised the issue of separate statehood during his visit to the district recently.”

MLC Veena Acchaiah said “there is a festive atmosphere in Kodagu on account of Huthari. The tradition and culture of the land should be passed on to future generations.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service, Madikeri / December 04th, 2017