Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The wedding looked like a dream wonderland: Bhuvann Ponnannaa

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A look into actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha’s Kodava-style wedding in Coorg

Actors Bhuvann Ponnnannaa and Harshika Poonacha at their wedding in Coorg on August 24(Instagram)
Actors Bhuvann Ponnnannaa and Harshika Poonacha at their wedding in Coorg on August 24(Instagram)

Long-time sweethearts, actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha , tied the knot on August 24 in a traditional Kodava ceremony in Coorg. Since the big day, the couple has been on the move, shares Ponnannaa. “We are in the USA right now, before which we were in Mexico. We had to rush to the States immediately after our wedding because our friend was getting married. Since the night of our wedding, we have been country-hopping and are yet to complete all the rituals, so our parents are mad at us!” he quips.

Talking about the wedding, Ponnannaa recalls the stress that came with planning out the big day. “We got really held up in the last-moment invites as well, so there was literally no time to plan. Our parents and a couple of our friends took up various responsibilities leading to the big day,” he shares, adding that the completion of the construction of his farmhouse in Coorg also had him stressed. “The interiors of our new apartment in Bengaluru were also being done and I was trying to get our new car delivered before the wedding. Along with that, we were trying to manage our work,” the actor exclaims.

Ask him how it was on the big day itself, and the Randhawa (2019) actor tells us, “I reached Coorg from Bengaluru at 7am. I checked all the venue arrangements and by the time I wanted to get some sleep, the festivities had started. So, I meditated for a bit and left. When I reached the venue and saw the whole place all decked up, like a dream wonderland, it made all the hard work just so worth it.”

Telling us about the traditional Kodava-style wedding, the 33-year-old says, “Kodava weddings are very unique, so we could not plan too many extra functions because there already were a lot of rituals to complete from morning until midnight. But we were very particular about the food — it had to be traditional along with a couple of our favourites, like fresh mango curry in jaggery sauce, mutton keema, ghee ragi dosa, noolputtu and koli curry, Coorg-style liver fry, chicken ghee roast and mutton biryani!”

Looking forward to married life, Ponnannaa says nothing much is expected to change in the couple’s equation. “But of course we will work harder together for ourselves. Harshika is also going to be the producer for my next film,” the actor says, adding they are yet to decide on their honeymoon.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Htcity> Cinema / by Aayushi Parekh / September 12th, 2023

Athur Village in Coorg : A Mini Nursery of Kodava Writers in English

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A land known as the nursery of Indian Hockey, Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka State has been a cradle for sports and Army.

However, located down south of Kodagu, Athur village near Gonikoppal town has been a mini nursery for writers! The village is home to four popular writers in English – C.P Belliappa and his sister, Kaveri Nambisan, P.T. Bopanna and his son Devaiah Bopanna.


It does look like Athur village has given birth to these Kodavas with a talent to be ‘pen-tastic’ not just at an amateur level, but at a professional one.


Growing up, I listened to stories of Princess Victoria Gowramma and Narimangala. My childhood days spun into a web of stories from different Kodava writers narrated to me by my mother. Sometimes, with a tale of a tiger’s tail by C.P. Belliappa.


As a teenager, I pondered over P.T Bopanna’s question, “Are Kodavas Hindus?” and sneaked a laugh at (AIB) All India Bakchod’s comic stories whose head writer was Devaiah Bopanna.


Chepudira P. Belliappa or popularly called as C.P Belliappa pursued a career in engineering. However, settling down in Coorg as a planter, he has been promoting technical education in Coorg. He has also penned many articles and is famous for his books, “Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg”, “Nuggets from Coorg History”, “Tale of a Tiger’s Tail and other Yarns from Coorg.”

His sister, Kaveri Nambisan has a unique style of writing. Her popular books like “The Scent of Pepper” can take you on a ride to Scotland of India, Kodagu with vibes of ethnicity. Her other books like “Mango-Coloured Fish” and “The Hills of Angheri” showcase stories derived from personal experiences. She is a doctor by profession. Kaveri started off as a writer for children’s magazines. She was recognized as the Coorg Person of the Year in 2005.


A leading author and a journalist, Palanganda T. Bopanna has been writing books about Kodavas and Kodagu. He has promoted several websites, including coorgnews.in, dedicated to Kodagu news. Bopanna is a recipient of the Gourmand international award for his book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee.’


His son, Devaiah Bopanna, has co-founded a media company called ‘All Things Small’ which concentrates on writing true stories by giving a unique, modern touch to journalism. A Mumbai-based writer, Devaiah adds a tinge of comical approach to his writings.

These writers have touched many hearts with their writings. The root to their writing stems from Athur village and it is my dear hope that more writing talents mushroom from the Kodava land.

source: http://www.medium.com / Medium / Home / by Shrividya Somanna / February 05th, 2021

Jayalakshmi Kodava Association Felicitates MLA A.S. Ponnanna

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Annual get-together event honours two accomplished authors, student achievers from the community

Mysore/Mysuru:

The 18th annual get-together of the Jayalakshmi Kodava Association was held recently at the Kodagu Sahakara Sangha, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysuru. Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna was the chief guest.

MLA Ponnanna was honoured with a custom-made marquetry art piece depicting Talacauvery, the birthplace of River Cauvery. Accepting the felicitation, Ponnanna spoke at length about the challenges in Kodagu and his plans for resolving them through active intervention and cooperation from all Kodavas and the people of his Constituency.

The event began with an invocation by Pandiyanda Anil Cariappa. President Ballyanda Uthappa extended a warm welcome to all attendees and presided over the event. During the ceremony, the Association paid their respects to two departed members. They also introduced new members who joined the Association between Aug. 14, 2022 and Aug. 27, 2023.

In a significant decision, the previous year’s committee will continue to function for the years 2023-2024, with Ballyanda P. Uthappa as President, Pandiyanda Girish as Vice-President, Jammada Ganesh Ayanna as Secretary and Mukkatira A. Somaiah as Treasurer.

Two accomplished authors within the community were honoured. Dr. Latha Muthanna received recognition for her third book, ‘The Jail and Other Tales,’ while Dr. Geetha Cariappa Chonira was applauded for her second English storybook ‘Girl with the Diary’ (A Tale from Kodagu).

The achievements of young members were also celebrated. Mukkatira Dia Ponnappa, daughter of Dr. Avinash Ponnappa and Nisha, an 8th-grade student, was acknowledged for her selection to participate in a week-long international debate workshop at Cornell University, New York. The workshop aims to refine oratory skills.

Another young talent, M.J. Devanshi, daughter of Mallangada N. Jayprakash and Swetha, a 7th-grade student, was recognised for her accomplishments in air rifle shooting competitions.

President Ballyanda Uthappa discussed various issues for the betterment of the Association and encouraged members to actively participate, both during good and challenging times. Treasurer Mukkatira Somaiah presented the accounts for the year 2022-2023, which were approved by the general body.

Jammada Ganesh Ayanna introduced the MLA. The event was conducted by Mukkatira Somaiah, with assistance from Codanda Chitra Medappa. A vote of thanks was proposed by Pandiyanda U. Girish. The programme ended with a sumptuous Kodava traditional dinner, fostering wonderful fellowship among all attendees.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 03rd, 2023

Annual Kodava Meet To Begin Today In San Francisco Bay Area

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California:

The Annual Kodava Convention in North America is scheduled to take place on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, in the San Francisco Bay Area, famously known as Silicon Valley. The convention will culminate on Sept. 3, coinciding with the Kodava community’s Kailpoldh festival. The inaugural day’s events will start at 5 pm.

This convention is a tradition spanning approximately 15 years. This time, over 500 Kodavas and their families from across the United States have registered to participate in the event, which is jointly organised by around 40 Kodava families.

According to the organisers, the two-day event will see the participation of Kodava guests from around the world. They have received well-wishes from notable Kodavas, including individuals from the military, sports, and the entertainment industry.

Registration had to be closed due to limited seating capacity. Local families will come together to showcase the cultural events that reflect the deep-rooted Kodava heritage and their unique talents, as stated by the organisers.

The programme will feature a blend of traditional and cultural events, including Baalo Paat performances, Kailpodh Ayudha Puja, Kodava cultural dances, Kodava Koota updates, an entrepreneurial mixer, a Kodava cultural skit, and the traditional Bolakaat.

This convention serves as a gathering for Kodava brethren from across North America, providing an opportunity to meet, learn and celebrate the rich Kodava culture. This year’s convention is aptly named ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and promises to offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Kodava tradition, unique attire, art, cuisine, culture and the deities.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 02nd, 2023

Kodagu is theme of painting show

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Kodagu is theme of painting show

An ongoing show has mounted paintings of pristine forests of Kodagu and river Cauvery that is sacred to the region.

The month-long show by multi-disciplinary artist Bhavani G S is called ‘Forest’.

Many of the 30 paintings on display teem with mushrooms, butterflies, berries, deer and elephants and they are inspired by Bhavani’s childhood memories of growing up in a coffee estate in Somwarpet in north Kodagu.

“The forest patch adjacent to our estate was untouched. I would see wild cats, wild fig trees, insects and butterflies. I would go collect snakeskin against my mother’s wishes. I would hear jackal howl. I would pick kallivoo (wild Poinsettia). But now homestays and safari tours have come up and global warming has disturbed the ecological balance on Kodagu as a whole,” says the 50-year-old, who shuttles between Kodagu and Bengaluru for work.

Some paintings capture the polluted state of Cauvery, drawing from years of journey she has taken along the river. It takes 10,000 litres of water to manufacture a single pair of jeans, and 1.5 to 3 litres for one litre of soft drinks, she talks about how relentless consumerism is depleting our water resources. These are watercolour works on paper, and acrylic on canvas.

On view till August 31 (closed on Sundays), 11 am to 7 pm, at Ambara, Halasuru.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka> Bengaluru / by Team Metrolife / August 10th, 2022

Meet The General Manager: Royal Orchid Hotels Mysuru’s Suman Nanaiah

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)
Suman hails from a family of coffee planters in Coorg

Embracing challenges as they come, Suman Nanaiah prides herself in curating out-of-the box personalised experiences for her guests. She started her career in 1996 and is now the Area General Manager of the Royal Orchid Group of Hotels in Mysuru.

Hailing from a family of coffee planters from Coorg, she embraced hospitality early on as a part of her culture. Crediting the same for her successful career in the industry, Suman has never looked back. Apart from involving her team in challenging projects, she also strives to recognise each team member’s strengths and weaknesses, and aims to help them streamline their efforts to achieve their goals. Keeping a sharp focus on the inputs provided by her team and taking into consideration their feedback, she is also a thorough decision maker. On days she is not busy tending to guests, she can be found in the jungles of South India with her son tracking big cats or pampering her taste buds while spending time with her family. 

* What was your first hospitality job and at what age?
Guest Service Associate at 26. 

* How would you describe your personal leadership style?
Integrity, clear communication, goal-setting and employee motivation. 

* One drink/dish travellers should not miss at the metropole?
Our wide variety of succulent kebabs at the Tiger Trail Restaurant. If looking for a combination then the achari murgh tikka with our in-house cocktail, Caipirojka. 

* What steps is the property taking to ensure sustainability?
Staff retention, recycling and waste reduction management, sourcing local and fresh seasonal produce, and energy and water conservation. 

* Any particularly funny incident you recall with the guests?
Once we arranged a wedding at the hotel and were informed that a VIP guest would arrive. We were told to ensure the grandest welcome, putting me and the entire team on our toes. Little did we know that the VIP guest was the groom’s best man at the wedding–Mirchi, his beagle, who travelled in his chauffeur driven car all the way from Mumbai. 

* Any strategic change that you implemented owing to the COVID-19 pandemic?
The foremost was staying connected with our guests through various digital channels and offering stress-free cancellation policies. We also enhanced our operational protocols by working closely with all local government health authorities.

* If not hospitality, what was your second career choice?
Animal rescue and welfare sector. 

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook Traveller / Home> Travel News> Story / by Simrran Gill / November 04th, 2020

Paadi Igguthappa Temple In Kodagu Gets A Grand Entrance Gate

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Madikeri:

The grand entrance gate at the Paadi Igguthappa Temple in Kakkabbe, constructed at a cost of Rs. 12 lakh, was inaugurated by former Kodagu District Minister M.R. Seetharam. The event took place yesterday, and the funding for the gate was generously provided by Seetharam’s family.

Speaking on the occasion, Seetharam said that the gate’s construction and inauguration were made possible by the blessings of Lord Igguthappa. He highlighted that it was his family’s desire to contribute to this endeavour.

Seetharam also mentioned that the concrete road leading to the temple, built earlier for the convenience of devotees, still requires some finishing touches in the middle section, which will be completed in the near future.

Seetharam and his family received praise from both the Temple Committee and devotees for their generous donation towards this noble cause.

Among those present were President of Akhila Kodava Samaja and Temple Devathakka Parandanda Suman Kaverappa, President of the Devotees’ Group Kandanda Joyappa, Kaddaniyanda Harish Bopanna, Seetharam’s wife Shrithi Seetharam, children Raksha Ramayya, Sundar Ram, Lalitha Nandakumar and Kaliyanda Harry Mandanna, Parandanda Dolly, Bachamanda Poovanna, Lava Chinnappa, Kaliyanda Sampan Aiyappa, Pandanda Naresh, Bidatanda Thammaiah, Temple Parupathedara Paradanda Prince Thammaiah and Revenue Supervisor Ravikumar.

On this occasion, Seetharam contributed by performing rituals including the ‘Thula Bhara’ ceremony, adhering to the temple’s procedures. The rituals were carried out under the guidance of temple priests Kushabhat, Jagadish, and Shreekant.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 28th, 2023

Annual Get-Together Of Field Marshal Kodava Kshemabhivrudhi Sangha Held

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Mysuru:

The third annual get-together of Field Marshal Kodava Kshemabhivrudhi Sangha, Yelwal, was held at Grand Chippas Hotel, Hebbal Ring Road recently.Sangha President Deyanda Jaya Chengappa presided. 

Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club President Kuttimada D. Muthappa and Rekha Muthappa were the chief guests.

Mandaneravanda Subramani, Sangha Secretary; Kadira Nandakumar, Treasurer; Nambiyapanda Seema Mahesh, Assistant Secretary; Allapanda Chami Kuttappa, Nayakanda Aiyappa, Nayakanda Harish Achaiah, Mekerira Bharath, Marada Shashi Aiyanna,  Koothanda Dinesh Poonacha, Mukkatira Sathish Cariappa, and Mundumada  Latha Bose (all Managing Committee Members) were present along with other members of the Sangha.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 26th, 2023

War memorial to be unveiled soon in South Kodagu

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Madikeri:

 A new war memorial will be unveiled soon in South Kodagu, in the memory of all the martyrs, and to offer a tribute to the soldiers.

Soldiers are responsible for the protection of the country. They work selflessly for the betterment of the country and ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Hence, to remember the struggle of martyrs and their sacrifices, a new war memorial has been set up at the main junction of T Shettigeri village, in South Kodagu and will be unveiled on August 28.

he major highlight of this memorial is that it has been set up by the funds donated by the No 33 Ex-Servicemen Association of T Shettigeri. This association consists of 450 retired soldiers. Installing a new war memorial was a dream of the association. This association has also contributed a lot to the society including extension of financial assistance to the needy and also providing aid during the time of natural disasters.

This war memorial is made up of marbles that cost around Rs 5 lac and the cost of construction is largely donated by the wife of K Bopaiah, a former havaldar, said president of Association, K A Vishwanath.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (SJM) / August 25th, 2023

Former CM B S Yeddyurappa , sandalwood stars graced Bhuvan- Harshika marriage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)
Former CM B S Yeddyurappa , sandalwood stars graced Bhuvan- Harshika marriage

HIGHLIGHTS

Sandalwood actress Harshika Poonacha and actor Bhuvan Ponnanna , both natives of Kodagu district embarked on their journey of wedded bliss.

Madikeri:

Sandalwood actress Harshika Poonacha and actor Bhuvan Ponnanna, both natives of Kodagu district embarked on their journey of wedded bliss. The glitzy Sandalwood duo celebrated their nuptials on Thursday , in accordance with the cherished Kodava customs. Amid the esteemed presence of elders, family members, and well-wishers, the couple partook in traditional marriage rituals, cementing their love in the heart of district.

The resplendent wedding took place in the serene setting of Ammathi Kodava Samaja in Virajpet taluk amid lush greenary of district. Donning the exquisite Kodava traditional attire, the celebrities radiated in their cultural finery. The event was graced by political luminaries, including former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, former Minister Murugesh Nirani, Sudhakar, and Virajpet MLA Ponnanna. The solemn wedding rites were elevated by the emblematic act of severing a banana pole, symbolizing valor and courage, as per Kodava tradition.

The star-studded affair garnered a dazzle of celebrities, with actress Anu Prabhakar and her husband Raghumukherjee elegantly clad in Kodava traditional attire. Actress Anu Prabhakar had been actively involved in the pre-wedding festivities, adding her grace to the auspicious occasion. The presence of renowned figures like actor Ganesh and veteran actor Doddanna further enriched the ceremony’s splendor.

The couple’s union was celebrated over two days of grandeur. The pre-wedding celebrations included the ‘Oorkoduva ceremony and Mehndi, setting the stage for the wedding’s magnificence. The Kodava wedding tradition, distinct in its own right, diverges from other cultures by designating the mother to applaud the bride. This special Kodava gesture, known as ‘Pattak’, (mangal Sutra ) tied on neck of Harshika by her mother.

Resplendent in traditional Kodava attire, Bhuvan and Harshika captured hearts as they partook in a series of Kodava customs. The ceremonial highlight included the symbolic cutting of a banana tree, signifying bravery. Traditional Kodava cuisine added flavor to the festivities, treating guests to an authentic culinary experience. The Kodava tradition of ‘Walaga’ was also a prominent feature of the event, showcasing the community’s rich heritage.

The union of Harshika Poonacha and Bhuvan Ponnanna stands as a testament to love, tradition, and the vibrant culture of Kodagu. The wedding extravaganza marked not just a joyous occasion for the couple but also a celebration of the rich cultural heritage they represent.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka> Bengaluru / by Coovercolly Indresh / by Hans News Service / August 24th, 2023