Kodagu on a plate

September 28, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Kodagu is known for its climate, coffee and cuisine. The Restaurant – Coorg, Indiranagar, has maintained the authenticity of Kodagu cuisine and stays true to the flavours of the land.

Bengaluru :

Kodagu is known for its climate, coffee and cuisine. The Restaurant – Coorg, Indiranagar, has maintained the authenticity of Kodagu cuisine and stays true to the flavours of the land.

The restaurant was started by KC Aiyappa in 2009, with his wife, Priya Aiyappa, donning the role of executive chef. Situated on the rooftop of a house, the interiors are quaint with a calm ambience.

We started the buffet with the Coorgi Chicken Curry, which we paired with Nuputtu (string hopper). The chicken was cooked in a coconut milk-based curry and we were amazed at the creamy delight that complemented the fluffy and soft serving of Nuputtu. The coconut had enhanced the flavour and we were surprised with the consistency.

My companion tried the Pandi Curry (Pork Curry) and Chilly Pork, which he described as ‘marvels on a plate’. The chunks of pork were marinated in Kachampali (fruit-based vinegar) and pepper, which added to the dark texture and juicy fat, while the chilly pork was fried with peppers, paired along with Kadamputtu.

A clear winner on the menu.From the vegetarian section, we tried the Kummu Curry, which is fresh oyster mushrooms with sauteed onions and grounded coconut. The mushrooms were cooked to perfection and paired with a fragrant serving of Ghee Rice. The star was the Bolari Fry (Cucumber Stir Fry) which had a zing of red-chilli and a soothing aftertaste of grated coconut. The bamboo shoot pickle, tamarind pickle and cucumber raita added to a burst of flavours.For dessert, we tried the caramel custard and coconut souffle. The former melted in our mouths whereas the latter was a perfect balance of coconut and milk. It’s safe to say, we left satisfied.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muneef Khan / Express News Service / September 28th, 2019

Minister Somanna Holds Meeting On Theerthodbhava

September 27, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Madikeri:

With Nada Habba Dasara round the corner, Kodagu District in-charge Minister V. Somanna held a meeting with officials on the preparations for Dasara festivities and Cauvery Theerthodbhava at the DC’s office here on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, Sri Bhagamandala Talacauvery Temple Management Committee President B.S. Thammaiah said that the Cauvery Theerthodbhava will take place on Oct. 18 and all preparations are being made in association with the Departments concerned.

MLA K.G. Bopaiah urged the PWD Department to fill the potholes on all roads connecting Bhagamandala, using the wet-mix procedure.

Bopaiah wanted clearance of all uprooted trees on Bhagamandala-Karike road.

The MLA also appealed the Minister to direct the Bhagamandala Temple Management Committee to release Rs. 25 lakh for the Gram Panchayat to take up cleaning works during the Jathra.

Thammaiah said that the Temple has Rs. 1.60 crore in its account, out of which various development works is being executed at a cost of Rs. 1.20 crore.

Minister Somanna directed the officials to ensure there are no lacunae in the celebration of Dasara festivities and also during Cauvery Theerthodbhava. On the occasion, Somanna released Madikeri Dasara Brochure.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 25th, 2019

Preparations begin for Madikeri Dasara

September 27, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

A Mantapa featuring the destruction of demons by Goddess Chamundeshwari.

As the district tries to bounce back to normalcy after being affected by floods and landslides, preparations have begun for Navaratri festival and Madikeri Dasara celebrations.

In the previous year, Dasara celebrations were confined to one day due to massive damages caused by floods. This time, the state government has announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for Madikeri Dasara Janotsava and the celebrations will be held on all ten days.

The ‘Dasha Mantapa’ procession will be observed with all pomp and gaiety, according to Madikeri Dasara committee.

The procession begins, with the culmination of ‘Jumbo Savari’ in Mysuru.

All the 10 temples will take part in ‘Dasha Mantapa’ procession this time. Best Mantapa will be awarded prizes. The procession did not take place last year.

The themes of Mantapa are based on mythological incidents. Around eight to ten lakh rupees are spent to prepare a single Mantapa. Artisans from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are invited to prepare the Mantapas, Manu, an office-bearer of a temple administration committee said.

Madikeri Dasara will start with ‘Karaga Utsava’ at 4 pm on September 29. Children’s Dasara, Women’s Dasara, Poets Meet, ‘Janapada Utsava’, Youth Dasara and cultural programmes will be held.

There is a possibility of more tourists turning up this time. Homestays and resorts have been offering special schemes for tourists this Dasara.

Ranjith Poovaiah, owner of a homestay said that there are a lot of homestays, hotels and resorts in Kodagu and they are supported by tourists.

Earlier to floods in 2018, around 20 lakh tourists visited the district annually. But, the number had decreased drastically after the calamity, he said.

Tourism department Assistant Director Raghavendra said that the number of tourists during the months June, July and August had fallen comparatively. It is hoped that the footfalls might improve after Dasara.

Savita, a resident of Madikeri said that the Madikeri Dasara procession has its own significance and people from various parts of the state come to Madikeri to witness the same. Dasara celebrations have now become ‘Janotsava’, the festival of people in real sense.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / September 25th, 2019

Kavya Madappa’s Bluecat Paper wants to make ‘tree-free’ paper mainstream

September 26, 2019Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leadersadmin

Kavya Madappa | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain

Instead of wood pulp, Bluecat Paper uses cotton, linen rags, coffee husk, banana fibre, mulberry, corn husk and flax fibre among other things

Kavya Madappa’s cabin at Bluecat Paper, a company that makes upcycled paper, overlooks a small verdant garden with a passion fruit vine and other plants. A black native dog sleeps on a thick sheet that is spread on a plush couch. It is not her pet. “He just likes to hang out here,” says Kavya from her desk. The office, located in Peenya, is airy, green and relaxing — it is unsurprising that Kavya also owns a spa resort in Coorg.

“I grew up in Coorg. Having a large backyard with lots of trees is something I took for granted,” she says. When she moved to Bengaluru, it took a while to adjust to the city’s traffic and bustle. Most conspicuous — and disturbing — to her, however, was the rapid felling of trees. She realised this when she happened to witness the large-scale production of paper at a mill.

Paper is mostly produced from wood pulp, which requires sawing of timber and removal of bark. Environmental activist Mandy Haggith, in her book Paper Trails: From Trees to Trash – The True Cost of Paper, writes: “The paper industry consumes 42% of all the wood felled industrially every year and its share of the world’s cleared forest is an area of about three million hectares annually.”

According to worldatlas.com, in the past four decades, the use of paper has risen by 400%. Roughly 26% of solid waste dumped in dumping sites is discarded paper and paperboard. A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations says that by 2050, more than half of the world’s total demand for wood and wood products is likely to consist of paper and paper products.

Bluecat Paper products | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain

These numbers suggest that Kavya’s concern for trees at the paper mill wasn’t misplaced. She sought and found a way to make paper without wood pulp. For two years, she studied about paper, met papermakers and experimented with different methods. A 15-day hand papermaking course at the Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute in Jaipur equipped her to set up Bluecat Paper in 2018.

Instead of wood pulp, Bluecat Paper uses cotton, linen rags, coffee husk, banana fibre, mulberry, corn husk and flax fibre among other things to make paper. These raw materials, according to Kavya, are abundant. Even the quality of her “tree-free paper”, she assures, is as good as the ones made from wood pulp. But handmade papers are expensive as their production is labour- and time-intensive.

“Most machines are developed for rolls of paper, whereas handmade paper is made into sheets,” explains Kavya. She, however, hopes that “tree-free paper” becomes mainstream. “I had to scale it up because most of the hand papermakers I knew were making paper in their backyard or in small units. At Bluecat, we can make 5,000 to 6,000 sheets of paper a day,” she says. But this number is a trifle compared to the lakhs of sheets manufactured at a paper mill every day.

“Paper isn’t a big deal,” says Kavya, “It is use and throw. You don’t even think you are wasting paper because it is cheap… But it comes at a price for planet Earth.”

Kavya steps out of her cabin to pluck a raw passion fruit. “A tree needs to grow at least 20 years before it can be cut for paper. But by this time, it has its own little ecosystem.But one fine day, you come and cut 50,000 trees at one go and say, ‘It is okay’… Come on, it’s ridiculous!”

(Bluecat’s products are available on bluecatpaper.com and leading e-commerce sites)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Praveen Sudevan / September 26th, 2019

‘Kannada Has Always Protected Kodava Language’ Book ‘Haradasa Appacha Kavi’ Released

September 26, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Mysuru:

“Kodava language is like seeds inside a fruit which is Kannada language,” observed Literary and Cultural Thinker Dr. A.A. Kuttappa.

He was speaking at ‘Kodava Thakk – Sahitya Dina’ (Kodava Language and Literate Day)organised jointly by Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, Rangabhoomi Trust, Kodagu and Natana Ranga Shaale at Natana Rangamandira in Ramakrishnanagar recently to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of Haradasa Appacha Kavi.

Dr. Kuttappa recalled that Appacha Kavi was an expert playwright whose four plays have become very popular. He commended Akademi Member and Theatre artiste Addanda Cariappa for coming out with the book Haradasa Appacha Kavi that was released at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Cariappa observed that protecting Kannada language with script has become tough and promoting Kodava language without a script by Appacha Kavi was really laudable.

When the 14th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana was held in Kodagu, D.V. Gundappa, Chairing the Sammelana, appreciated holding the event in Kodagu and predicted that Kodavas would protect Kannada in the coming days, he recalled.

Continuing, Cariappa said that ‘Kodava Thakk – Sahitya Dina’ is being celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Appacha Kavi and added that the country’s first folk literature ‘Pattole Palame’ running to 612 pages was in Kodava language. He sought establishing of a Haradasa Appacha Kavi Study Chair at the University of Mysore and also to organise Appacha Kavi Jayanti in Kodagu by the State Government.

Bharani Art Gallery Director Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa said that the State cannot forget Haradasa Kavi who used to read Shlokas of epics and who promoted the Kodava literature.

On the occasion, the play ‘Badk’ was staged by Cariappa and Anitha couple in the lead roles of the elderly couple Chengappa and Thangachi with a lot of humorous anecdotes portraying the true life of a happily married couple.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 25th, 2019

KSRTC’s Dasara Darshini tour from Sept 29

September 25, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Dasara Logo

With Dasara set to start on September 29, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is set to launch different tour packages for the people visiting the city.

Under Dasara Darshini, KSRTC has three packages — ‘Giridarshini’, ‘Jaladarshini’ and ‘Devadarshini’. In addition, four tour packages to tourist hot spots such as Kodagu, Bandipur, Ooty and Simsha have been planned at affordable prices.

The tour packages will be available from September 29 to October 13. Interested people can book on www.ksrtc.in

Three packages

Under Giridarshini, tourists will be taken to hill stations such as Bandipur, Himavad Gopalswami Betta, BR Hills, Nanjangud and Chamundi Hill.

While adults will be charged Rs 350, the fare will be Rs 175 for children.

Under Jaladarshini, tourists will be taken to various waterfalls and tourist spots. Visitors can visit the Golden Temple, Dubare forest, Cauvery Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat in Madikeri, Harangi and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dams. The ticket price for adults is Rs 375 and Rs 190 for children.

Under ‘Devadarshini’ package, tourists will be taken to temples in Nanjangud, Talakadu, Mudukutore, Somanathpur, Srirangapatna and KRS dam. The ticket price for adults is Rs 275 and Rs 140 for children.

Madikeri package covers Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Nisargadhama, Abbi waterfalls, Raja’s Seat, Harangi reservoir; while Ooty package covers Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty, Rose and Italian Park and Boat House.

Bandipur Package covers Somanathpur, Gopalaswamy Betta, Talakadu, Mudukuthore, Bandipur National Park and Nanjangud. Similarly, Simsha package covers Gaganachukki and Barachukki waterfalls, Nimishamba Temple in Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Balamuri and Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS).

Airavatha Club Class volvo buses will be arranged for the four package tours and the tour commences at 6.30 am from Mysuru Central Bus Stand.

While Madikeri package costs Rs 1,200 per adult, Ooty Package costs Rs 1,600. Bandipur and Simsha packages cost Rs 1,000 and Rs 800, respectively.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mysuru / by Ranjith K V, Mysuru / September 23rd, 2019

Kodava Hockey Namme to make a comeback

September 25, 2019Sportsadmin

The family that was in-charge of hosting the hockey fest in 2019 – Mukkatira family of Harihara, will host the fest in 2020 April-May.

Madikeri :

After a year’s break, the famed tournament Kodava Hockey Namme will be back to entertain the crowd and promote comradeship among hockey enthusiasts in Kodagu during April-May of 2020. Preparations for the fest is ongoing and the 2020 event promises to be in par with the previous years’ hockey fests.

Kodava Hockey Namme is being organised in the district since 22 years and the 2020 event will be its 23rd year of celebration. The hockey tournament played among Kodava families has gained international fame as the tournament has broken ‘Limca Book of Records’ and ‘Guinness World Record’ for highest number of team participation. 2018 Kulletira Cup Hockey saw participation from 333 Kodava families,” recalled Kayapanda Shashi Somaiah, a resident of Madikeri.

The first of Kodava family hockey tournament was played in 1997 and was organised by Pandanda family. The game started off with international rules and standard and continues to provide a stage for youngsters and seniors alike.

While the 23rd year hockey namme was to be observed during April-May of 2019, it was skipped as hundreds of residents across Kodagu were affected by the natural disasters that hit the district on August 2018.

The family that was in-charge of hosting the hockey fest in 2019 – Mukkatira family of Harihara, will host the fest in 2020 April-May.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R, Express News Service / September 25th, 2019

Kodava Convention In US

September 23, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Over 400 attend grand ceremony in Boston

Boston:

The North American Kodava Convention was hosted by Kodavas of Greater Boston area from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.

Kodavas from across Continental US, Hawaii, Canada, India and UAE joined the convention that was one of the largest gathering of Kodavas in North America. Over 400 people attended the event.

The community came together as ‘Okka’ at the convention which was aimed at bringing the community closer, renew old relations and forge new ones, facilitate connections for youngsters who are growing up in a foreign land to their Kodagu roots and to help preserve and nurture the rich Kodava heritage, culture and language.

The event was organised at Marriott Copley Hotel in the heart of Boston. The weekend festivities kicked off with an informal meet of the gathering on the evening of Aug. 30 at the hotel lounge, followed by ‘Oorkuduva’ evening on Aug. 31 at the world-renowned MIT Media Lab, to showcase the intellectual side of Boston.

The ‘Oorkuduva’ evening had presentations regarding the origin of culture and biodiversity in Kodagu related to genealogy, including preliminary data from the ‘Kodava Genome Initiative’, which was presented by Prof. Maanasa Raghavan and her Ph.D. student Arjun Biddanda.

The evening also included a talent show of Kodava children in the art of public speaking, piano recitals, jazz-saxophone performance and singing. It was an idyllic setting for an ‘Oorkuduva’ gathering at the MIT Media, overlooking the Charles River and spectacular views of Boston skyline.

There was Kodava Vaalaga after dinner which got most of the guests onto the dance floor. The party then shifted to the Marriott Copley Hotel where Deep Chinappa entertained guests with his rock band, the ‘Deep C Divers’.

There were several daytime activities including tours of various historical and cultural Boston landmarks, walks along the popular Freedom Trail, kayaking on the Charles River and tours of MIT and Harvard campuses. The highlight of the Convention was the gala reception on Sept. 1 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel.

It was a Kodava wedding muhurtha-like atmosphere where guests sported their traditional attire. The programme included Kodava folk dances like ‘puthari kolaat’ by Kodava men, an up-tempo exhilarating ‘bode namme’ style carnival dance.

The programme also had panel discussions that covered topics like, “Our enchanting Kodagu: Change is inevitable! The resources are at their limits. How do we advance our beloved Kodagu on a global scale in a sustainable way, while preserving our unique culture, family values, and one-of-its-kind natural bounty? What role each person can play towards achieving these goals? How do we inspire youngsters and serve as role models to excel in whatever field they choose?”

The panellists included Belliappa Cheppudira, an educationist, coffee planter, an entrepreneur, an accomplished novelist and author of several books including ‘Tale of a Tiger’s Tail’, ‘Yarns from Coorg’, ‘Nuggets from Coorg History’, and ‘Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg’.

Others were Dr. Zarin Machanda, Assistant Professor at Tufts University and Director of Kibale Chimpanzee Project in Uganda and Dr. Naren Anjaparavanda, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Cincinnati.

After the discussion, the guests were treated to delicious authentic Kodagu food including ‘kadambuttu,’ ‘nooputtu,’ ‘Onakyerchi’ ‘nucchi kum’ curry, ‘kadale payasa’ and of course the traditional ‘pandi’ curry.

The evening’s programme also included an annual update from Kodava Koota and presentation of high school achievement awards sponsored by Bachranianda Muthappa and Rani Education Fund.

The convention ended with a resolve to organise the next convention at San Francisco Bay Area in 2020.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 22nd, 2019

Embassy Group and Ashwini Sports Foundation set the stage for ‘Making Sport in India’

September 22, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sportsadmin

( Left to Right ) Mr. Suresh Menon, Sports Writer; Ms. Aparna Popat , Olympian – Badminton; Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, Cricketing legend; Mr. Jitu Virwani, Chairman and Managing Director, Embassy Group; Mr. Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director,

Bengaluru :

‘Making Sport in India,’ a panel discussion involving cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, Jitu Virwani – Chairman & Managing Director of Embassy Group and Founder of the Embassy International Riding School (EIRS), Badminton star Aparna Popat, Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India and well-known cricket scribe Suresh Menon, discussed the path towards a sports revolution in India.

Moderated by Ashwini Nachappa, India’s ace sprinter and founder of Ashwini’s Sports Foundation (ASF) based in Coorg, the panellists weighed in on topics including the challenges to creating a robust grassroots program for identifying and nurturing talent, and the need to reignite the love for the sport in school.

The forum, a joint initiative of Embassy Group and Ashwini’s Sports Foundation, also focused on the growing trend of the private funding of sport through competitive leagues, investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and providing world-class training based on best practices arising from a better understanding of the science of performance.

Two such organizations presented their efforts – ASF, which concentrates its efforts on Athletics, Hockey and Shooting, and EIRS, based in Bengaluru, which focuses on equestrian sports. Recently, EIRS had major success when Fouaad Mirza, an equestrian rider and Arjuna Awardee, who trains at the school, won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games. He is now working to qualify at the Olympics with an eye on the medal finish.

ASF, founded in 2010, has several athletes in track & field, hockey, and shooting competing at the national level. ASF is a Khelo India Academy for Athletics, which provides training to talent identified under the Khelo India program. Partnering with various corporates, the Foundation boasts state of the art sporting facilities and technology that enhances performance across sporting disciplines.

Ashwini Nachappa, Founder of ASF, said ‘It is wonderful that we got to host a discussion around an area that has so much potential for growth in our developing country. Sport has a great future – it is through the passionate efforts of individuals and private organizations such as ours that we can focus on our efforts to create champions. Sport must begin at a young age in school.

Ashwini’s Sports Foundation currently hosts a school on campus called KALS, where sport and academics go together. Talented children are then identified and nurtured through ASF. I want to thank Jitu Virwani and Embassy for providing us with a terrific platform to tell our story. I hope those keen on supporting sport will come forward to help our program thrive and prosper.”

Jitu Virwani, Chairman & Managing Director of Embassy Group and Founder of EIRS, added, “When we first set up the Equestrian Academy back in 1996, we realized that while there is immense sports talent in India, it is not being brought to the forefront owing to several gaps. This can be bridged with corporates coming forward to help cultivate diverse sports talent in India, through collaborations with the Government and Private Institutions such as Ashwini’s Sports Foundation.

“Our journey and success in the 2018 Asian Games is a template for how other sports in India can reach milestones and shine across International platforms. Channelizing the CSR mandates of corporates towards sports will bring about an advancement in this field for the country. In Equestrian, we are now gearing up for the Olympics 2020 and confident that we will set another landmark in this sport.”

The event was attended by 20 Bangalore corporates who were encouraged to consider funding of sport in their CSR efforts, especially those of non-profit private academies focused on creating excellence in their chosen sport. The event was an initiative of Embassy Office Park’s Corporate Connect Program, which aims to bring together Business Park tenants and other corporates with like-minded Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandates, and experienced non-profits to address a diverse number of challenges faced in society.

This event was the 6th in a series of round tables and forums called the Embassy Engage Series that provides platforms for corporates to deliberate on a variety of social challenges.

source: http://www.mykhel.com / MyKhel.com / Home> More Sports / by Avinesh Sharma / September 21st, 2019

Training For Army Recruitment Rally

September 22, 2019Business & Economyadmin

With the Department of Saink Welfare and Resettlement, in association with the District Employment Exchange Office, scheduled to hold an Army recruitment rally from Oct.13 to 18 at the District Stadium in Madikeri, Kodagu.

The Department is organising a free pre-recruitment training camp for SSLC/PUC candidates from Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts from Oct. 1 to 11.

Candidates interested in joining the Army, can register by presenting the necessary documents (2 passport size photographs and Xerox copy of marks cards) at the Office of Department of Sainik Welfare and Recruitment, near DC Office, Mysuru before Sept.25.

For details, call Ph:0821-2425240 or 2489972.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / September 21st, 2019

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas