Mysuru:
The Annual Kodava Convention of North America brought together more than 500 guests in Houston, Texas, from Sept. 4 to 6, with 141 Kodava families from 116 cities and three countries taking part.
This was the third time Texas hosted the event, following earlier gatherings in Austin and Dallas. Preparations began more than 14 months ago, with Kodava families from the Greater Houston area involved.
The Convention opened on Sept. 4 with a ‘Meet the Hosts’ gathering, allowing participants to reconnect with friends and families from across North America and overseas.
The celebrations on Sept. 5 had a distinct Texas flavour, with optional morning run/walk and shooting range activities, followed by a pre-convention celebration at a ranch-style venue. The programme featured Bollywood and Western line dance performances by Houston hosts and a Mexican folk dance by guest artistes.
On Sept. 6, participants visited NASA’s Johnson Space Centre before attending the Main Convention programme centred on the theme, ‘What does it mean to be a Kodava today?’
Kodagu brought to Houston
The Convention venue featured a Kodava heritage exhibition displaying traditional jewellery, clothing, household and cookware items, along with storyboards on Kodava history and identity. Tables were named after villages in Kodagu, while traditional Kodava proverbs were used for an interactive quiz.
The décor also reflected Kodagu’s landscape, incorporating coffee beans, paddy, anthuriums, banana stems and flowers.
The main programme began with a traditional prayer song and ceremonial lamp lighting by members of the Baduvamanda and Gummatira families. Traditional ‘Ummathat’ by Kodava women and ‘Bolkaat’, the martial dance performed by Kodava men, were among the highlights. A contemporary dance by Kodava women and a children’s skit, ‘Two Boots, One Beat’, exploring the cultural similarities and contrasts between Texas and Kodagu, were also presented.
Tradition takes centre stage
A multigenerational panel discussion, ‘One Heritage, Many Journeys: Being Kodava Today’, brought together five Kodavas from different generations to discuss identity, traditions and the challenges of preserving their heritage while living away from Kodagu. Live polling also allowed the audience to share their views.
The convention also saw the introduction of ‘arivāme’, a Kodava heritage and language app aimed at supporting the preservation and teaching of Kodava Thakk.
The programme concluded with an update from Kodava Koota on its activities and plans, followed by dinner featuring Kodava and Indian cuisine. The evening ended with music and Kodava Vaalaga, with guests joining the celebrations on the dance floor.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 30th, 2026
