Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

CNC observes Huthari in traditional fervour

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Nature
CNC President N U Nachappa and CNC members observed Huthari festival by cutting paddy sheaves in the filed of Uthappa at Chikkabettageri near Kushalnagar on Sunday.
CNC President N U Nachappa and CNC members observed Huthari festival by cutting paddy sheaves in the filed of Uthappa at Chikkabettageri near Kushalnagar on Sunday.

The Codava National Council (CNC) led by its president N U Nachappa celebrated Huthari, the harvest festival of Kodagu, at a paddy field of Nandineravanda Uthappa, in Chikkabettageri village near Kushalnagar in Kodagu on Sunday.

By cutting paddy sheaves in the paddy field of Uthappa, the members celebrated the festival in a traditional manner.

The members offered prayers to the gods and began the Huthari celebrations with ‘Nere Kattuvo’ ritual. The leaves of mango, jackfruit, “Arali”, “Kumbali” and cashew nut trees were used in the ritual.

After the ritual, the participants walked in a procession to paddy fields accompanied by the ‘Dudikottpat’ (Dudi is a small drum of Kodavas).

After firing thrice in the air, the paddy sheaves were cut and brought home in a procession.

The CNC members performed traditional Kolata, Pareya Kali and Chowkata on the occasion. People relished Payasa, “Thambittu,” “Kadubu”, “Pandikari” and other delicacies on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the CNC President urged the government to include Kodava language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

He said that the government should accord tribal status to Kodavas.

The central government should declare a holiday for Huthari festival.

The CNC is continuing its struggle for an autonomous Kodava land and Kodava land should be declared a union territory. The culture and tradition of Kodavas should be included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Unesco, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by DH News Service, Kushalnagar / December 03rd, 2017

22nd annual puthari public celebration by CNC tomorrow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

PuthariKF03dec2017

Kodagu :

The 22nd annual puthari public celebrations by the Codava National Council (CNC) will be held at Nandineravanda Uthappa’s Paddy Field in Chickabettageri Village of Kushalnagar tomorrow.

According to a press release from Codava National Council, the rituals start with ceremonial prayers to Codava guru and Karona and all the deities followed by nerekattuva rituals by five varieties of fresh leaves such as Geri Thopp, Palchi Thopp, Mange Thopp, Kummi Thopp and Arali Thopp after which the ceremonial processions , accompanied by Kuthi, Thaliyathaki bolak , Dudikot Paat & Thok – Kathi to the Paddy Fields.

There will be variety of cultural programmes – Pareya Kali, Kolat & Valagathat immediately after the Kad Edpa ritual , followed by Meedi Beppa ( offering oblation ) to Guru and Karona under Nellaki followed by tasty Codava cereal.

“This rich, ancient and vibrant ritual has become obsolete on account of the intentional suppressive mishandling by the government systematically after Coorg got merged with Karnataka in 1956. CNC has been trying to rejuvenate the near- forgotten ritual. “We insist that the government at once should declare common holiday to the entire district for Puthari festivities for a week,” the press released added. -(KK)

source: http://www.citytoday.news / City Today / Home> Headlines> Karnataka> Mysore / by CT Bureau / December 02nd, 2017

Kodagu gears up for Huttari festival

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Reaping the paddy sheaths as a part of Huttari ritual.
Reaping the paddy sheaths as a part of Huttari ritual.

Preparations are in full swing for Huttari (Puttari) festival in Kodagu. Houses are being decorated and farmers are all set to bring the newly harvested paddy to the houses. Huttari, the grandly celebrated festival will be observed on December 3 and 4 this time. The festival proceedings have begun at Mand, near Kodava Samaja and cultural programmes will be held to mark the occasion.

Due to inadequate rains, the harvest was bad in the paddy fields last year and the celebrations were dull. This year, the yield has been good thanks to the mercy of the rain gods and the paddy fields are covered with greenery.

The religious start will be given at Padi Iggutappa Temple near Napoklu by removing the sheath on December 3.

Huttari Kaladcha will be observed on December 2. After various rituals, the meal prepared from the new harvest will be served on December 3 at 9.30 pm.

After the ritual at the temple, the farmers’ march towards their fields, offer a prayer to the field, fire gunshots in the air, harvest the new crop and bring it to the houses while singing songs. The warehouse of paddy too will be offered a pooja, followed by meals.

‘Kolata’ is a major part of Huttari celebration. The Kolata dance will be performed at Mand and at Old Fort Hall. ‘Kattiyat’, ‘Ummattat’ and ‘Dudikotpat’ will also be held.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Achtya K A / November 30th, 2017

In misty Madikeri

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, World Opinion

We recently decided to travel to Madikeri and surrounding areas with our relatives Uday Kumar and Bharathi.

They had arranged our stay in a resort surrounded by thick forest.

How did we go?
We left Bengaluru on Friday morning by car. Our main destination was Madikeri and Kodagu but we touched other places along the way.

What did we do?
We took the NH 275 and our first halt was at Kokkare Bellur. We observed some pelicans perched on a few trees. Our next halt was Balmuri waters, the manmade bund over Kaveri river. The water and scenery were good but the surrounding was spoilt by the heavy flow of tourists. It was a brief stopover and we soon left Balmuri.

We entered Nagarahole National Park and headed towards Virajpete. Virajpet is a small town tucked inside forested area, hills and coffee plantations. We stopped for tea and headed to Club Mahindra Virajpet, located inside a forest at a distance of 13 km from Virajpet. The road passed through coffee plantations and entered a forested area, wherein the resort is built.

On looking through the window of our cottage, I found that the flower and fruits of a wild banana growing in reverse direction! The flower and fruits were growing upwards, which was interesting. I also took a photograph of a wild orchid flower growing on an old arecanut tree trunk just outside the cottage.

Next morning we headed to Nalknad Palace, which was a hiding place for Chikkaveerajendra, the last king of Kodagu who was arrested by British East India Company in 1834. To reach the place, we had to manoeuvre several steep curves through coffee plantations and forests and after passing Kakkabe, we reached Nalknad Palace. The renovated building is a Mangalore tiled structure with four secret dark rooms where the Raja used to keep fugitives and his opponents. The wall paintings on Nalkand Palace are also interesting. After his arrest, he was deported to Vellore at first, then to Varanasi by the British and ‘Coorg Nest’ was the building where he was kept along with his wives and assistants. Nalknad palace was the last hideout for Chikkaveerarajendra, who was arrested by the British on the charges of atrocity he committed in his kingdom.

Located high in the mountains, the Nalknad Palace is a very interesting place to see. There are several homestays and resorts near Nalknad Palace, all tucked inside several forest nooks. On returning from Nalknad, we went to Iguthappa Temple, which is nearby. The recently-renovated temple is located on a small hillock and is frequently visited by the Kodava people.

After spending about thirty minutes there, we headed to Abbey Falls. The view of the falls is a sight to behold. We returned to Madikeri and the first thing we did was to find a good place for lunch. After lunch, we roamed in Madikeri Fort which is still in good condition. It is interesting to observe that the Palace of Madikeri Raja is still being used as offices of Government of Karnataka. The old church at the entrance of the fort is converted to an archaeological museum.

At 5 pm we visited Onkareshwara Temple, which looks good with its reflection in the temple pond located just in front of the temple. At around 6 pm, we went to see Raja Seat. The sunset from Raja Seat is a colourful affair with the evening rays filling up the entire valley below, as the spot is located on the edge of a mountain.

Next morning, we headed towards Dubare Elephant camp. Dubare is located on the banks of Kaveri river and Government of Karnataka is managing an elephant training camp. River rafting is something one should experience.

After spending an hour in Dubare, we went towards Bylakuppe, which is near Kushalnagar and Bylakuppe is a well-known Tibetan settlement. The settlers were hardworking and earned livelihood by cultivating forest lands and woollen business. They built a colourful Golden Temple as per Tibetan architecture. The mythological drawings depict the stories as per Tibetan tradition and makes a interesting sight. After spending some time in this Buddhist temple complex, we had lunch at Kushalanagar and headed towards Bengaluru.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Shashidharan Halady / November 29th, 2017

Get a whiff of coffee at GES

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News
The stall set up by Coffee Board at the GES venue where Araku Coffee grown in the eastern ghats is also on display.
The stall set up by Coffee Board at the GES venue where Araku Coffee grown in the eastern ghats is also on display.

Coffee Board sets up stall to promote regional flavours

Coffee Board, a Government of India enterprise, has put up a stall at GES venue to promote various regional flavours of coffee mostly grown in the western ghats.

Though India is the sixth largest producer of coffee that’s mostly exported to Europe, not many outside Europe are aware of it. “This is our opportunity to promote Indian coffee among the global audience at GES,” says Raghuramulu, Director, Central Coffee Research Institute, Coffee Board.

The western ghats is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world and coffee is grown as an integrated crop and in shade, Mr. Raghuramulu said. It is a way of rejuvenating greenery in the eastern ghats known for Podu cultivation. The income of tribals started going up after coffee plantation was promoted in Araku and Chintapalli areas in Visakha Agency, he added.

At the summit, Araku Coffee grown in the eastern ghats is also on display.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2017

‘Rakshith and I will be working together’

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

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has just completed shooting for ‘Anjani Putra’ with Puneeth and ‘Chamak’ with Ganesh.

In ‘Anjani Putra’ she plays a lively character, while ‘Chamak’ will see her slip into the role of a homemaker.

The actor says that she had the freedom to improvise and make contributions to the script in both the projects.

Rashmika has her hands full at the moment but doesn’t want to lose any opportunity to work on experimental subjects.

She talks to Nina C George about her journey so far.
What’s your role in ‘Chamak’?
I play Ganesh’s wife in the movie. It is unlike the roles that I have worked on before.

What is the movie about?
The story traces the life of a young married couple living in a city. The film delves into the challenges and pressures faced by young couples. It also takes a look at how important one’s
attitude is when confronted with problems.

What made you accept ‘Anjani Putra’?
I liked the way my character is positioned in the film. My onscreen name is Geetha. I could easily relate to the childish ways and lively nature of the character.

The audio of ‘Anjani Putra’ has just been released. Tell us about it.

Two of our songs have been shot on the streets of UK. That was a brilliant experience. Each song has a different feel to it.
Puneeth is a good dancer. Was it tough to match steps with him?
More than matching steps, I was overwhelmed by seeing how helpful Puneeth is. He takes you along with him and is supportive of his co-stars. It is fun when big stars help you at every step.

How was your experience of acting with Puneeth and Ganesh?
It is interesting to watch how established actors go about their job. How they handle their characters and what they do to get under the skin of the character is in itself a learning
process. I treasure the time spent with them.

Are you under pressure to prove yourself as an actor?
I am not under any pressure because I like to work at my own pace. I am fortunate to have bagged projects with Puneeth and Ganesh this early in my career and I know that it is going to be tough going forward. But that doesn’t make me nervous. It has only made me a stronger person.

Will we see you work with Rakshith Shetty anytime soon?
Yes, Rakshith and I will be working together in the future. It is now doubly exciting to work with him because we are very comfortable in each other’s company.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Nina C. George / DH News Service / Bengaluru – November 26th, 2017

Love coffee? Head to Bengaluru this December

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Coffee News

The fourth Coffee Santhe is here

Coffee nerds, rejoice! The fourth edition of India’s unique coffee festival—Coffee Santhe—is back from December 1-3. The event—which will be held at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru—will showcase coffee in all its forms—beans, roasted and ground—from estates around India.

You can have all your burning questions answered–the coolest blends you can make, how to best pair your coffee-based beverages with your food, and find out about all the weird and wonderful strains of coffee you had no idea about. There will also be a Brewmaster championship where the best women baristas across the country will go up against each other. The winner will get the chance to train under some of the world’s best coffee specialists.

Women baristas showcase their brewing skills in front of an international panel of judges
Women baristas showcase their brewing skills in front of an international panel of judges

This is the only event of its kind in India and the idea is to draw attention to the industry and the people who bring you your morning cup of joe. Organised by the Women’s Coffee Alliance, a group that works to ensure that the women that work on the coffee estates benefit from the coffee trade. The organisation helps raise money to educate the daughters of the women who work in the coffee fields in Bababudan, Chikmagalur, Coorg, Biligiris and Sakleshpur, provides food to supplement their diet and health insurance to the women working in the plantations. It also conducts regular health camps on site.

It’s time to wake up and smell more than just the coffee.

For more information call: +91 9900217029 / +91 9886577132

source: http://www.cntraveller.in / Conde Naste Traveller / Home> India> Food & Drink / by Raj Aditya Chaudhuri / November 22nd, 2017

Hero stone with rare inscription found in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Vividly pictured hero stones are not new in India but very few stones with inscriptions have been brought to light by scholars like Dr Chidanandamurthy, Dr Sheshashastri, Dr Devarakonda Reddy, Dr Lakshman Telagavi and others.

Historian Prof Murugeshi released a statement to the press which states that a unique self-sacrifice hero stone with some rare inscriptions was discovered at Basiruguppe in Torenuru grama panchayat near Kushalanagar of Somawarpet taluk in Kodagu.

A view of the hero stone.
A view of the hero stone.

A rectangular stone slab which is about four feet tall has been divided into four sections or panels. The top section has three lines while the fourth line is written on the left side of the stone.

The inscription has been written in the Kannada script of early 9th century AD. It reads: “Bhava gaavunda son of Naaka Shetty a chief of elephants, died and some land grants were given.”

The lower portion has an inscription of a self-sacrificing man seated on a legged cot folding his hands upright on his chest. He appears to be wearing a headgear like a peta and has his eyes shut. His peaceful appearance clearly indicates that he was ready to sacrifice his life.

A butcher is seen ready with a sword to behead the seated man. The second panel has a beheaded soul (in the form of men), taken by two Gandharva Kanyas (heavenly ladies) to heaven. In the third panel, he is seated on a two-tiered seat in Veerasana and has two female attendants on both sides standing with fly–whisk or Chowri.

In the early historical period, we find the practice of velevyali, lenka, garuda, shulabhrama, siditale, sati and nishadi and many more types of memorial stones in South India. The inscription under study belongs to velevyalis or lenka type of memorial stone. They were considered as sons of the royal home or mane magan, who sacrificed themselves in honour of their deceased royal persons, the scholars state.

The writing of the inscription had shown many similarities with the records of Gangas of Talakad. The name Anniga is also commonly found in Ganga records. In Coorg, many Ganga records already reported and it was a part of Gangavadi 96.000, an administrative unit of the Gangas of Talakad. Taking all these into consideration, the inscription under study is assignable to the Ganga period, the scholar added.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service / Udupi – November 22nd, 2017

Works on Gen Thimayya Museum will be completed by March: Umashree

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree on Monday said that work on construction of General Thimayya Museum in Kodagu will be completed by March next year, before his birth anniversary.

Replying to S Veena Achaiah (Cong), who sought to know the reason for the construction work being very slow, in the Legislative Council, she said the land where the museum is being built was owned by Transport department. There was some delay in transferring the land to the Kannada and Culture department. So the construction work was going in slow pace, she added.

The minister said the department has now expedited the work, and it will be completed by March next year.

Earlier, Veena Achaiah said the government had sanctioned Rs 5.50 crore for General Thimayya Museum in 2013. So far, only Rs 45 lakh has been utilised. Works should be expedited and state government should ensure that the museum works are completed by March. It should be inaugurated by March 21, birth anniversary of General Thimayya, she added.

To another question by Jayamala of Congress on installing the statue of former chief minister K C Reddy at Vidhana Soudha, Umashree said the government is unable to do so because of the Supreme Court order.
She, however, added that an appropriate decision will be taken after holding a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / DH News Service, Belagavi / November 20th, 2017

Need to protect Kannada stressed

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Sthree Shakthi members take out a procession.
Sthree Shakthi members take out a procession.

There was a festive atmosphere at Ponnampete on the border of Kodagu district in Virajpet taluk, which is hosting a two-day district-level Kannada Sahitya Sammelan. A large number of students participated in the Kannada literary meet, which commenced on Saturday.

Inaugurating the meet, writer Dr Siddalingaiah said that there is a need to protect Kannada in Kodagu. “A few Malayalam name boards are found in the district. Kannadigas should be awake in the district.

There is no need for a Malayalam name board in Kannada land,” he said.

Stating that there are ample opportunities for promotion of tourism in the district, he said that the state government should chalk out programmes to safeguard the culture and uniqueness of the district along with the promotion of tourism.

Highlighting the importance of Kannada in the district, he said Kodagu Commissioner Cubbon had removed Lakshminarayanayya from the post of Diwan of Kodagu in 1838. He had written a letter to Governor General in Kolkatta highlighting the injustice met on him in pure Kannada.

Siddalingaiah said, “there is a need to restrict the purchase of land in the district by people from outside the district to protect the culture of the land.”

“Field Marshal Cariappa, General Thimmaiah not only brought fame to Kodagu but also the entire country. The people of the district not only guard the border but also protect the language.”

Kaveri nadi pradhikara
In her presidential address, Kechamada Subbamma Thimmaiah demanded the setting up of Kaveri nadi pradhikara.

She said “the test reports have confirmed that the water from river Cauvery at several places is not potable. The garbage and sewage from various places enter the river and pollute it. Cauvery is the lifeline of the state. There is a need to check dumping of garbage into the river. If left untreated, it could choke the river flow, ” she warned.

“The Kodagu district is the land of warriors and culture. There is a need to protect the culture of the land.”, she added.

Arameri Kalancheri Mutt seer Shantha Mallikarjuna Swami, Ponnampete Ramakrishna Sharadhashrama Swaroopanandaji Maharaj were present.

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