40 families to organise the mega event on Sept. 2 and 3
California:
The Annual Kodava Convention in North America will be held on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, this time in the San Francisco Bay Area, also known as Silicon Valley.
This convention, which has been going on for about 15 years, was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of Kodava families across the country have already registered to participate in this convention, which is being jointly conducted by about 40 Kodava families.
It is an event for Kodava brethren from all across North America to meet, learn and celebrate the Kodava culture. With a strong history of more than 20 years, these conventions have been hosted in several major US cities in the past.
This year’s convention is called ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and will showcase the vibrant and colourful festivals of Kodagu. This will be a unique opportunity for the attendees to learn about Kodava art, food, culture and deities in a much greater depth.
Furthermore, this event also presents meet-and-greet opportunities and networking for jobs, family connections and matrimony. An informal pre-convention event will be held on Sept. 2 at Elliston Vineyards — a beautiful and historic location in Sunol Hills.
Several Kodava families across the country have already registered to attend this event, which is being organised by about 40 Kodava families from San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.
The convention is being conducted to save the Kodava traditions and develop unity among the Kodava people. For more information, write to bayareakodavas@gmail.com.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 22nd, 2023
The traditional symbol or logo of Kodavas and other original inhabitants of Kodagu comprising ‘Peeche Kathi’, ‘Odi Kathi’ and a gun (that have been used for centuries) placed in a particular and unique way to form a logo has been trademarked by Kodavamera Kondata, Madikeri, Kodagu district.
A trademark is a brand name specifying the unique characteristics of a product of any organisation. It is a symbol, phrase, logo or group of letters and numerals representing the uniqueness of a product or an organisation. Improper use of trademarked symbols can lead to legal hardship.
The Kodavamera Kondata is a society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, of 1960 and the trademark has been registered under the Trade Marks Registry, Mumbai, Government of India, as per procedures enlisted in the Trade Marks Act 1999.
Accordingly, the certificate of registration has been awarded to Kodavamera Kondata on May 14, 2023, by the Registrar of Trademarks. Trademark registration prevents misuse of the logo and now, it can be used only by Kodavas and 21 communities.
The other communities who have been permitted to use the logo are Amma Kodavas, Airi, Banna, Baniya, Boonepatta, Golla, Kodava Heggade, Kaniya, Kapala, Kembatti, Koleya, Koyava, Kodava Hajama, Kodava Nayar, Panika, Marangi, Madivala, Maliya, Meda, Malekudiya and Nayanda.
Apart from these 22 communities, no one can use the logo and legal action can be taken against its misuse. In a letter to the DG&IGP Karnataka and Superintendent of Police, Kodagu, Kodavamera Kondata has informed the authorities that the organisation will legally prevent the misuse of the logo.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Founder-President of Kodavamera Kondata Chamera Dinesh Belliappa said that the main purpose of obtaining the trademark for the logo was to prevent its rampant misuse.
“We have been seeing some vehicles involved in illegal activities like smuggling boldly sporting our traditional logo as often such vehicles having the logo are not stopped at the Kodagu district borders assuming that they are owned by community members,” he said.
Kodavas and the 21 communities are emotionally attached to the logo as it is a matter of pride to sport the logo and it hurts if it is misused, discrediting the community. “We applied for the trademark in 2020 and it has been granted after a long process, detailed inspection, examination, assessment of tradition, historical references, affidavits, representations and arguments of all 22 original inhabitants of Kodagu. The trademark is renewed every 10 years and the same process is followed,” he explained.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / May 22nd, 2023
Kodagu Model School, promoted by Sri Kavery Kodava Association – Mysuru East, Vidyashankara Layout, has secured hundred percent results in theSSLC Exams for the academic year 2022-23.
Muhammed S. Shiraazuddin has topped Kodagu Model School with 598 marks out of 625 (95.68%).
Other students are: M.P. Nivedha – 594 (95.04%); Bhavish K. Gowda – 538 (86.08%); P. Prem Sagar – 533 (85.28%); S. Lohith Raje Urs – 530 (84.8%); H.U. Thejas Gowda – 525 (84%); R. Preethika – 519 (83.04%); N. Sanjana – 508 (81.28%); S. Preetham Raj – 507 (81.12%); R. Bindu – 501 (80.16%); N.S. Nandish – 493 (78.88%); M.U. Anirudh – 488 (78.08%); D. Adithya – 478 (76.48%); H. Kiran – 462 (73.92%); S. Purushotham – 447 (71.52%); D.M. Nithish Gowda – 438 (70.08%); M. Tejas – 396 (63.36%); M. Harshavardhan – 375 (60%); P. Yadunandan – 362 (57.92%).
BVB School
The students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) School in Vijayanagar, Mysuru, too have excelled in SSLC and the School has secured 100 percent results.
Out of the 161 students who had appeared, 124 have passed with distinction and the rest 37 in first class.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 08th, 2023
Sandalwood actor Abishek Ambareesh , who got engaged entrepreneur Aviva Bidapa, in last December is set to tie the knot on June 5 in Bengaluru. A grand reception will be held on June 7 following the marriage.
Both Abishek and Aviva were in a relationship for a long time will be entering the new phase of life in June. Family members from both sides are already busy with the wedding preparations which is expected to be a gala affair as Sumalatha, who is as an actress as well as Member of Parliament and Aviva’s parents Prasad Bidappa and Judith Bidappa are renowned fashion designers.
Many personalities from politics and film industry are expected to grace the wedding as well as reception.
On work front, Abishek Ambareesh, who is likely to stay away from shooting for a while, due to marriage rituals, will be seen in Bad Manners, which is expected to release this year. He is also collaborating with director Mahesh Kumar for a mega project.
source: http://www.m.timesofindia.com / E Times / Home> Entertainment / TNN / May 19th, 2023
A grand ‘Kodava Yuva Mela’ was hosted by Jabboomi Charitable Trust at Crystal Court Hall in Madikeri yesterday that reflected the unique Kodava culture, attire, traditions and practices.
Such a Mela was held for the first time and thousands of community members, wearing their best traditional attire, had gathered from all parts of Kodagu and the gathering also comprised community members from Mysuru and Bengaluru. Special buses were arranged to ferry them to Madikeri.
The Mela provided a platform for youth to connect with one another to build long-term bonds which will enhance cohesiveness within the community. It enabled the Kodava youth to meet, greet and network with each other and recall, re-live and experience the tradition and culture.
Kodava youths are scattered across the State and country owing to professional, educational, residential and personal reasons. As a result, intra-community relations have weakened over decades. The only occasions when youth are able to interact with each other are limited to social and family get-togethers within Kodagu and beyond its borders.
The Mela began with a puja to Goddess Cauvery and ‘Gejje Thand’ (a sacred wand held by Kodava men during important events. It is usually sacred ownership of every Okka (family)) and the overall message to the youngsters was to unite and not to forget the traditions and culture of the motherland.
Jabboomi Charitable Trust Convener Chottekmada Rajiv Bopaiah said that the youths must not forget the roots of the community. “Kodagu, its uniqueness, culture, traditions and practices are like a ‘mother root’ and cannot be forgotten. “It is our duty to safeguard the Kodava soil (land), ethos, tradition, family values, age-old and time-tested practices, festivals and holy observations,” he noted.
We must be committed to preserving the tradition and fight for the existence of the Kodava community in the face of any adversities and at the same time unite the community socially, financially and culturally so that we can live in co-existence and facilitate the thriving of Kodavaame in the land of Kodagu,” he added.
Noted youth achievers of the community Vice-President – Talent Acquisition, State Street Ajjamada Goutham Chengappa, chef Bariyanda Naren Thimmaiah, singer Machchanda Sharan Aiyappa, actors Ulliyada Bhuvan Ponnanna, Uddappanda Harshika Poonacha, Koothanda Tarak Ponnappa, IRS officer Dr. Kottangada Pemmaiah, Bharatanatyam exponent Mukkatira Shilpa Nanjappa, young writer Mevada Aliya Chondamma, make-up artist Baduvanda Madhushree Ganapathy, head of Lopamudra Medical Centre Mukkatira Dr. Amrit Nanaiah, industrialist Machcharanda Deepika Appaiah, planter Kallichanda Chengappa and forest officer Naganda Parvathi were felicitated.
A massive procession was held on the streets of Madikeri as part of the mela from the private bus stand to the Crystal Court Hall where the male community members carried their traditional weapons including guns and ‘Odikathi’ (sword), the female crowd sporting their traditional Kodava saree and the ‘vasthra’ (head scarf) and accompaniments like ‘Thalithakki Bolcha’ (traditional lamp). A lot of traditional bands too performed along the procession route attracting the crowd and tourists.
The statues of war heroes and Generals including Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, Major Mangerira Chinnappa Muthanna and General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya were garlanded along the procession route. Hundreds of youths rode their bikes along the procession route.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 21st, 2023
While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive because the tree is hardier and requires less care.
pix: Bloomberg
The global cost-of-living crunch has pushed coffee drinkers to get their fix from cheaper brews. But a shortage of robusta beans is making it increasingly difficult to find a budget-friendly cup. While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive because the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.
Key growers, however, are finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in demand, with wholesale prices this week hitting the highest level in nearly twelve years.
For consumers in Europe’s largest coffee market, Germany, the squeeze is having a noticeable effect on retail costs, with instant varieties going for nearly 20% more than a year ago, even as inflation for coffee beans has lost momentum. US instant coffee price-growth also slowed less than the roasted version in April.
The odds of global robusta shortages easing any time soon look bleak. Vietnam — the world’s largest producer — probably collected its smallest harvest in four years, after farmers focused on planting more profitable crops like avocados and durians to cope with booming fertilizer costs in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Brazil, the second-largest grower of the variety, has seen its crops hurt by drought, and there are also concerns that Indonesia’s output could suffer following heavy rains. Despite those hurdles, more robusta beans were exported globally in the first six months of the current season compared to the last three years — just not fast enough to keep up with higher needs. Shipments between October and March were about 4% higher than the same period in 2021-22, according to the International Coffee Organization.
“There’s been so much of a demand shift away from higher-priced coffee that even the market isn’t even being satisfied by higher robusta exports,” said Judith Ganes, who runs a consultancy focused on commodities like coffee in New York.
The switch was first observed among roasters who increased the amount of robusta used in commercial blends to offset higher arabica costs and energy bills. Then, double-digit inflation in many parts of the world saw grocery bills surge to the highest in decades, forcing some consumers to trade down to cheaper options.
As a result, robusta-heavy instant coffee is growing faster than other industry segments, according to Aguinaldo Lima of the Brazilian Instant Coffee Industry Association, whose country is the world’s top soluble coffee producer. And leading companies elsewhere, such as Nestle SA and India’s Tata Coffee, have also reported stronger demand for instant coffee in their latest financial reports.
While robusta beans are known to be significantly more bitter than the arabica variety — in part due to higher levels of caffeine — Vietnam and Indonesia have both improved the quality of their beans, making it easier for roasters to increase the variety in blends without drastically affecting the taste, according to Ganes.
Consumers might discover “very interesting flavors” by drinking robustas, even if the taste is different than arabica coffee, said Daniel Munari, a barista who also runs Royalty Quality Cafe in southern Brazil.
“There’s sweetness and acidity, which are a great addition and give balance to the drink,” he said.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> World News / by Mumbi Gitau, Dayanne Sousa and Mai Ngoc Chau / May 14th, 2023
Our travel diary from a weekend of bliss at this 125 acre property nestled in the hills of Madikeri.
Baalelle restaurant at The Ibnii in Coorg
Waking up to the sound of birds chirping and the gentle lap of water is what mornings are like at our pool villa at The Ibnii. Turns out we forgot our swimsuit. But a deterrent this is not. With not a soul in sight, except the stunning views of lush green trees that tower up high and coffee plantations in the distance — a 7am dip feels a bit surreal. The air is chilly but the water is warm. Given it is temperature controlled, this is the case even at midnight, we soon discover, much to our delight. For now however, we realise it is our moral imperative to simply soak in the moment. Phone off. Soul turned on. One hundred and twenty five acres of pristine forest land embraces us in response.
Some moments like the one above are suspended in time. While others are steadily threaded into a highlight reel of our days spent at this wellness resort nestled in the hills of Madikeri, Coorg. Right on top of this list is when Priyanka, who is showing us around the property, over a walk, plucks an orange flower and promptly pops it whole, into her mouth. “It’s edible, I eat one every morning,” she says, most matter-of-factly, as though this is as common as a bowl of oats. We are keen to pop a morning flower too! The nasturtium, as it is called, is mild and sweet with an unexpected kick of spice at the end. Definitely our most memorable palate adventure, although the kitchen’s Pandi Curry, comes in a close second.
At the pool villa
Mindful eating To keep waste to a minimum, we find out that this resort has a unique policy — guests need to pay Rs 100 for every 10 grams of food they waste. Bold, but effective we realise, as we find ourselves doubly mindful about what we put on our plate from the buffet. That said, if you do end up paying for food wasted, it is heartening to find out that the funds are donated to an orphanage in Madikeri. Meanwhile, another big surprise is that the drinking water at The Fig, the resort’s multi cuisine restaurant, quite literally comes from the air. We spot a robust air water purifier that does the job in the corner one afternoon, after returning from a relaxing hour spent at the spa. En route, we recall spotting a family of sunbathing monkeys, so perhaps all species at this resort take ‘rest and recharge’ quite seriously.
Forest restoration With an awareness that all natural ecosystems are vanishing all over the world at an alarming rate, the resort has committed a third of its property for the purpose of restoration of forest. Sherry Sebastian, one of the founders of The Ibnii says, “Bringing back a complex ecosystem such as this one within the Western Ghats is a slow process. We have more than 50 species of trees already growing here but the whole understory is choked mostly by coffee plants that are growing densely. We have taken up the mammoth task of selectively removing the invasive plants so natural regeneration can happen.” She adds, “Additionally, this area will be used as a resource to educate our guests about the importance of the natural world.”
Breathe in
■ Electric cars and buggys are used on the property to keep the air clean ■ Guests are privy to a live air quality index monitor at the reception ■ Drinking water at the restaurant is quite literally bottled from moisture in the air with the use of an air water purifier
Kodava lessons A bit of trivia for folks looking at a getaway here soon, apart from nature walks and regional cuisine, you get impromptu language lessons in the local Kodava tongue, courtesy names like Baalelle (banana leaf) for their vegetarian restaurant or Pattole Palome (a collection of Kodava folklore), which is the name of the green building it is housed in. Kaldi Kappee, the resort’s award-winning lakeside coffee shop, however, has been named after the Ethiopian shepherd who discovered coffee beans back in 850 CE. As the story goes, he noticed his goats nibbling on some wild berries, following which they pranced around with more energy than ever, making him curious enough to try the berries himself.
Coffee date While on the subject of coffee, don’t miss the resort’s coffee trail. Ours encompasses the different stages of berries and coffee making and ends with the grand reveal of a prized jar of dried ‘civet poop’. The civet cat better known as the Kopi Luwak roams free on the premises and for conservation purposes, the coffee from their droppings is not sold or monetised. But we do get the unique experience of holding some premium poop in our hands (pre washed of course). And then we’re told to do the oddest thing — shake it. We hold it up to our ear and shake to hear the softest jingle of coffee beans inside.
While civet coffee isn’t available at the resort itself, here’s a golden nugget of trivia for any coffee lover. Apart from those nutty flavour notes, this luxury brew is a great choice for folks who suffer from uncomfortable bouts of acidity. Given that it is essentially pre-digested by the civet cat, you can enjoy your cuppa with no reservations. We have to admit, this coffee date, poop et al, is perhaps one of our most ‘memorable’ and is definitely a change of pace from the Tinder experience.
The Ibnii is a 12 hour drive from Chennai. Accommodation at INR 18,000 onwards.
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / Indulge Express, The New Indian Express / Home> Travel / by Sonali Shenoy / May 19th, 2023
Actor Gulshan Devaiah shared an instance from the shoot days of ‘Dahaad’ and recounted how he took up the role of a ‘prompter’ for co-star Vijay Varma, and how his co-stars fondly called him an encyclopedia on set.
“There was a particular scene that was shot in a school. This was Vijay and my first scene together and it was quite an easy scene, where we have an exchange in a corridor. We shot the master/wide take and were shooting the OS (over the shoulder) close ups.”
“It was going well, and suddenly I saw Vijay searching for his line as he had forgotten his line. I was like this is such a good take for me and so I started to prompt him,” said Gulshan.
The actor added: “Now the camera was on me and not on him. It was my close up so I’m desperately trying to cover my mouth while prompting him his line. Of course, Vijay broke into a laugh!”
“There’s no way we could now use this take because whatever I was doing in order to prompt him while avoiding getting caught on camera was quite comically out of character. We had a good laugh about it and re-did the take.”
Gulshan who is tagged as a “walking encyclopedia” by his co-actors is known for remembering everything – including his co-actors’ dialogues, fun facts about random things – from food to sports.
Shoot days would often end with a fun dancing session, an impromptu karaoke, or even a friendly match of badminton. Pranks were a common occurrence and the actors and creators became a close-knit group till the end of the shoot.
Directed by Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi, ‘Dahaad’ is produced by Excel Media and Entertainment and Tiger Baby with Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Reema Kagti as Executive Producers.
The 8-episodic series streaming on Prime Video.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Glamour / by IANS / May 16th, 2023
The direct recruitment of Kavadis (elephant caretakers) has begun at Dubare Elephant Camp in Kushalnagar taluk, Kodagu district.
Following the order of the Government, Kodagu Division DCF B.N.N. Murthy kick-started the process of recruitment in the wake of lack of adequate number of Kavadis at the camp, in the presence of Forest Department officers.
A total of 29 Kavadis from different parts of the State are attending the recruitment, with due preference given to those adept at taming the elephants. The recruitment is being conducted to fill the vacant posts of five Kavadis at Dubare Elephant Camp,” said DCF Murthy.
Deputy Conservators of Forest (DCFs) Shivaram Babu and Sharanabasappa, Assistant Conservators of Forest (ACFs) Gopal, Srinivas Nayak and Nehru, Range Forest Officers (RFOs) Ananya Kumar and Shivaram, Deputy Range Forest Officers (DRFOs) Ranjan, Chetan and Savan and other forest personnel were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 18th, 2023
A land known for its coffee and renowned for its generals and warriors, the history of Kodagu has never been traced to its origins, the thread of descent becoming a tangled knot of colonial theories and hearsays. But history is important for one to realise the essence of culture and one’s own identity. Without this realisation, much is lost, and more is at risk.
Kodagu has always been placed in the category of the areas that complied silently with the British, when in reality, its contributions were simply underplayed and whitewashed. Many braves from all backgrounds had been leaders and warriors in their own right, following Gandhian ideals and fighting passionately for freedom.
The PM’s YUVA Mentorship scheme was an opportunity to shrug off this stereotype and uncover the truth. The Lost Heroes of Kodagu talks of those men and women who looked danger in the eye, unflinching even as blows landed on them left and right. It talks of those who rose and made sure their voices were heard despite attempts to muffle them. Those that history let slip through cracks and crevices, silent and dormant.
Recover them as you read. Watch as they come alive through the pages. Be inspired by their grit and determination, be empowered by their stories. But most of all – remember them, keep them in glorious memory.
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