Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Karnangeri Betta In Madikeri To Be A Tourist Hub With Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

ThimmakkaPark01KF03mar2020

Mysore/Mysuru:

In an effort to promote tourism and create an awareness about nature, the Forest Department is developing Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park at Karnangeri Betta in Madikeri at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

It may be recalled that former Forest Minister Ramanath Rai in the earlier Government had proposed to set up Tree Parks in each Assembly constituency. And now this project is inching closer to become a reality as construction of a view point, welcome arches and other amenities have already begun.

The said Tree Park is being built on 45 acres of forest area at Karnangeri Betta. Saplings of popular tree species including Tega (teak), Beete (Indian blackwood), Honne (Indian Kino), Rakta Chandan (Red sanders), Silver oak, numerous bamboo species, Hebbevu (Melia dubia), Hunase (Tamarind), Bilva (Indian bael), Ala (Banyan), Tapasi (Indian elm) and others are being planted in the tree park.

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There will also be play area for children, butterfly park, watchtowers, seating arrangements, walking paths, separate toilets for men and women, drinking water facilities and other basic amenities for visitors of the park.

Besides, the Tree Park would also include a garden in which flowering plants will be cultivated. Four specially designed Pergolas will be an added attraction here. Also, a viewpoint being built on the top of the hills, will offer spell-binding views of nature’s spectacle around Madikeri city.

The Forest Department has already sent a proposal to the Government for sanctioning Rs. 25 lakh for this project. The visitors have to pay Rs. 10 as an entry fee to the Park, which in all likelihood will open by the end of this month.

The local residents here are a little apprehensive about this project. “Mandalapatti is a popular tourist spot in Madikeri. Environment is at the receiving end in the name of tourism here. Tourists visiting Mandalapatti are polluting this area by throwing plastic bottles and other waste all around. We are worried that Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park, being developed at Karnangeri Betta might also face similar issues. Stringent measures should be taken up to prevent tourists from polluting this serene environment,” say some of the residents.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by Prasad Sampigekatte / March 02nd, 2020

Bean-to-cup coffee making in a Coorg plantation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Visitors are encouraged to make their own blends, including weighing, mixing, roasting and grinding.

The plantations offer homestays and resort, perched on stilts. (Photo: The Tamara Coorg)
The plantations offer homestays and resort, perched on stilts. (Photo: The Tamara Coorg)

The lashing rain from the night before had simmered to a soft drizzle this morning. The clouds had parted, and the sundeck of our wooden cottage, perched high on stilts, afforded a resplendent view of coffee country Coorg. The freshly bathed dimpled-green Western Ghat hills rolled away as far as the eyes could see. Acres and acres of coffee and spice plantations dotted the landscape, intermingling with lush forests. The gushing sound of a waterfall drifted in from close by, blending with the rustling of leaves. Below us, as our resort’s plantation was waking up, we set out to witness first-hand the journey of coffee — from bean to cup.

With tall silver oak, teak, rosewood and other trees lending shade to coffee shrubs in the plantations, Coorg offers a gorgeous setting to observe the process of coffee production. Karnataka alone accounts for 70 per cent of the coffee produced in India, with the south-western districts of Coorg (locally Kodagu) and Chikmagalur producing the lion’s share. India, by some accounts, produces the finest shade-grown coffee.

Many of the plantations have homestays and resorts for anyone wanting to sample the plantation life. The deep dive into the coffee culture at our resort, sprawled over a 180-acre estate, begins right at check-in. You’re welcomed with steaming tumblers of delicious bellada coffee (Karnataka-style filter coffee with jaggery). The cottage-style wooden villas, in traditional Kodagu architectural style — sloping roofs, perched high on stilts — are placed at respectful distances from each other, for immersion into a planter’s private yet lavish lifestyle.

Umbrellas in hand, we follow our guide, through thick foliage and unending rows of coffee shrubs. Sharing interesting nuggets about the native flora that grows with wild abandonment, he points out the two main coffee varieties of Coorg — the hardy, disease-resistant Robusta and the better-quality, tastier, smoother and more expensive Arabica. A number of spices are often intercropped with coffee, such as peppercorn, cardamom, clove and nutmeg that help the coffee acquire lovely aromatics while adding a few prized cash crops in the planter’s kitty.

Each year, the life cycle begins with pearly white blossoms in February-March. Natural showers and sprinkler irrigation are crucial for their yield, which determine the amount of coffee harvested the following year. The blossoms turn into green berries and, then, a deep red when ripe, which are handpicked from November to February.

The walk is followed by a coffee-processing experiential programme at the little museum in the resort grounds. The ripe berries are dried and pulped to obtain the seed — aka coffee bean! The beans are sorted, blended and roasted in a traditional roaster. Encouraged to make our own blends, we weighed and mixed different percentages of the varieties according to our taste, put them in the roaster and hand-ground the divinely aromatic roasted beans into a fine powder — to be had as a hot brew right there, or carry back as a souvenir.

Back home, whenever I’d sip on my blend, I’d reminisce about the time I crafted it, and the scrumptious Coorgi lunch that followed, that rainy, misty afternoon.

Satarupa Paul is based in Delhi and writes on food and travel.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Eye / by Satarupa Paul / February 29th, 2020

‘Kodavas Are Living Like Aliens In Their Own Homeland’

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

Rangayana Director Addanda Cariappa makes a fervent plea to save Kodava language, culture

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New Delhi:

Kendra Sahitya Academy Member and Rangayana Mysuru Director Addanda C. Cariappa has urged the Union Government to give Kodavas geo-political autonomy over their ‘Codava Land’, by including Kodava language under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and granting them the micro-minority community tag for a better future and a secure homeland.

He was presenting a paper at All India Tribal Writers Conference here on Feb. 24. The Conference dwelled ways and means of reviving tribal languages. Speaking at length about Kodavas and tribalism, Cariappa said that it was essential to revive and rejuvenate tribal languages like the Kodava language (Kodava Thakk) that is under threat of extinction, thanks to lack of Government support.

“With the onslaught of modern ways of life, tribal languages are suffering the most. Many tribal languages do not have their own script and the challenge with those languages is that they do not have their indigenous scripts and are not recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Hence, languages like Kodava Thakk and many others which form the cultural connections among a sizeable population face the danger of disappearing as just household native tongues,” he said.

197 languages in India are endangered

Today, Kodavas are feeling insecure and are living like aliens in their own homeland. “Our rich culture and heritage have not been given due recognition owing to many oversights. We have been requesting the Governments to give us the due space in Eighth Schedule. To the United Nations, our plea has been that the UNESCO should include ‘Codavaame’ (Codavaism) as a traditional minuscule micro-minority Kodava tribe in Karnataka, on the list of intangible cultural heritage,” Cariappa opined.

In the past, a UNESCO report had revealed that 197 languages in India are endangered and five languages are almost extinct with a handful of people speaking them in different tribal communities. Once they are gone, the language dies a natural death. And with that, a whole discipline of indigenous culture, knowledge and history is wiped off the face of earth forever, he explained.

Languages dying slow death

“There has been a demand for about 46 languages including Tulu and Kodava Thakk to be included in the Eighth Schedule. But Governments so far have not paid heed to this request and as a result, many tribal languages have died a slow death. According to an estimate, nearly 1,300 tribal languages exist in India alone. They were born in the lush greenery of forests and are constantly disappearing as the forest cover is being plundered in the name of development, urbanisation and progress,” Cariappa regretted.

Highlighting the plight of writers of such languages, he said, “When the language itself gets buried with the passing of time, what would the writers do? A whole community loses its identity when a language disappears. Hence, someone has rightly said “f you want to finish a community, all you need to do is to kill their native tongue.”

Making a fervent plea to include Kodava Thakk in the Eighth Schedule, Cariappa said, “When a nation’s Constitution honours a tribal language with due recognition, they are used as mediums of learning, education and instruction. Languages can be saved from extinction when they use the existing scripts of other languages that are in their ecological surroundings to survive and thrive.”

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 27th, 2020

Red Cross Bhavan to come up at a cost of Rs 1.3 cr in Madikeri

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

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Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, who is also the chairperson of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) district committee, performed the ground-breaking for Red Cross Bhavan at Stewart Hill in the town on Thursday.

Speaking during the formal programme, IRCS State Committee Chairman Naganna said that the IRCS had always assisted in the relief measures, including the floods in Kodagu.

“The Red Cross Bhavan will provide timely assistance to the people affected by calamities”.

Naganna said that a grant of Rs 50 lakh was reserved by the IRCS district committee and Rs 25 lakh by the state committee for the Red Cross Bhavan.

Naganna said that a grant of Rs 50 lakh was reserved by the IRCS district committee and Rs 25 lakh by the state committee for the Red Cross Bhavan.

He said another Rs 10 lakh will be provided in the next phase by the IRCS state committee. Making use of the funds provided by elected representatives, a state-of-the-art auditorium, a warehouse and an office will be constructed, he added.

IRCS Kodagu head B K Ravindra Rai stated that the Red Cross Bhavan was planned to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore on 12.50 cents of land, and the work would be carried out by Nirmithi Kendra.

IRCS Kodagu General Secretary H R Muralidhar said that the branch of the IRCS was commissioned in Kodagu in 1952, with the efforts of the then Chief Minister of Coorg state, C M Poonacha.

Former IRCS State general Secretary Ashok Kumar Shetty, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Dr Vishal, Nirmithi Kendra Officer Sachin, CMC Commissioner M L Ramesh and IRCS district Vice President H T Anil were present.

source: http://www/deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / Muhammad / by DHNS, Madiker / February 27th, 2020

Guddali Puja For ‘Vruddhashrama’ By Kodagu Mahila Sangha On Mar.1

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The guddali puja for the ‘Vruddhashrama’ (Old Age Home) to be constructed by Sri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha, Mysuru, will be performed on Mar. 1 (Sunday) at 10.30 am.

The puja will be held at Ramu Dakshayani Layout, Survey No. 41/2, Lingambudhi village, near Maramma Temple (Thimmaiah Enclave), according to Sangha President M. Bollamma Kuttappa (99012-39798) and Founder President I. Parvathi Cariappa (89716-01824).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / February 27th, 2020

National Seminar On Tribal Languages

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Kendra Sahitya Academy will be conducting a National Seminar on ‘Tribal languages’ at Ravindra Bhavan in New Delhi from Feb. 24 to 29.

Mysuru Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa will present a paper on Kodava Tribal Language at 10.30 am on Feb. 25, the second day of the seminar.

The conference will be attended by tribal language writers and intellectuals.

The conference has assumed significance in the wake of demands that Kodava language be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / February 23rd, 2020

Information about Kariyappa Memorial Park in Hindi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment

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Cariappa Memorial Park is located in the middle of Bangalore city as a component of the Parade Grounds on M.G Road. The Cariappa Park was set up in 1996 as a memorial to Field Marshall K.M. Cariappa of Karnataka.

The park is laid out in a section of the parade grounds amid M.G. Road and Cubbon Road. The park stretches over 22 acres. It has six segments including an entry plaza and a 7 foot massive memorial of Cariappa. It is a very well maintained memorial Park in Bengaluru.

Man-Made Waterfall, Pond & the Bandstand
The park contains a big artificial waterfall. There is a pond that charms birds towards the park. Every fortnight, 6 military bands perform at the bandstand which is a grand lawn. The lush dunes surrounding the bandstand offer relaxed seating for the visitors. The patch is preserved by different segments of the Army.

Park’s Play Area
A play area has been systematically created in military-style. This is to enhance bodily strength and mental skills of kids. Sandpits, Tarzan-swing, Burma Bridge, zigzag tunnels, a spider web, and balance bars are also in this park.

Walker’s Path & Variety of Trees
A walker’s path which is 1.8 km long is tiled with cobblestones. There are home-grown and imported 3000 species of trees and plants. There are lots of bamboo trees too.

No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used for the growth or maintenance of the plants to encourage an eco-friendly approach.

Cariappa Memorial Park’s Timings
Cariappa Memorial Park can be visited by the public on Saturdays. The timings for visiting this memorial park are between 1 pm and 7 pm. On Sundays, it can be visited between 9 am and 7 pm. The rest of the days, it can be visited by the public between 5:30 pm and 8 pm.

‘Not Allowed’ Details
Snacks, drinks, and pets are strictly prohibited in the park.

Address Details
The Parade Ground amid M.G Road & Cubbon Park

Nagarathpete

Bengaluru

Pincode: 560009

Chief Details of the General Cariappa Memorial Park, Bengaluru
The main aspects of the General Cariappa Memorial Park, Bangalore are:

Main attractions: Play area, Military Theme activities

Entry Fees: Free

The time required: 2 Hours

Facility type: Outdoor

Is it a Picnic Spot: No, it is not a picnic spot.

Photography or video recording: Allowed

Food and water facility: Yes

Restrooms present: Yes

Parking Space Provided: Yes

source: http://www.newzsquare.com / Newz Square / Home> Education / by Sandra William / February 23rd, 2020

Kodava Samaja

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Screening of ‘Baava Battel,’ the first-ever experimental short-film in Kodava language [Produced by Manavattira Sangeeth Erappa and Directed by Manduvanda Prajwal Ganapathy], Kodava Samaja premises, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, 11 am, 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm, 6.30 pm and 8 pm [7 shows].

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Events> Events Tomorrow / February 22nd, 2020

‘Introduce Arebhashe culture among schoolchildren’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Women offer coconut oil to the earth as a part of 'Keddasa' ritual.
Women offer coconut oil to the earth as a part of ‘Keddasa’ ritual.

The culture and tradition of Arebhashe should be introduced among children during their schooling, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish said.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Arebhashe Siri Samskrithi and Keddasa Gauji Samskrithika Jambara’ organised by Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi and Sahitya Academy, in association with Bhagawan Sangha-Urubailu and Swami Vivekananda Yuvaka Mandala, at Government Primary School in Koodadka near Chembu village on Sunday.

Harish said that the land was considered to be divine and the custom of offering coconut oil to land is observed as a part of Keddasa ritual. “Such customs signify the importance of nature and therefore, it should be passed on to future generations,” he added.

Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi and Sahitya Academy President Lakshminarayana Kajegadde expressed his concern over the poor use of Arebhashe language.

Folklore scholar Sundar Kenaje said that on the day of Keddasa, the eldest daughter of the house offers coconut oil to the earth and performs pooja. Similar customs are practiced across coastal districts, he said.

Intellects Hosur Chandrashekhar and Sheelavathi spoke on various rituals practiced as part of Arebhashe culture.

Cultural programmes were held on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Ashwani Kumar NKR / DHNS, Madikeri / February 16th, 2020

Maha Shivaratri observed with religious fervour across Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Devotees waiting in a queue for the ‘darshana’ of presiding deity at Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri on Friday. DH Photo
Devotees waiting in a queue for the ‘darshana’ of presiding deity at Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri on Friday. DH Photo

Maha Shivaratri was observed with religious fervour across Kodagu district on Friday. Special puja rituals were observed in Shiva temples in the district.

There was a festive spirit in temples at Somwarpet, Kushalnagar and Shanivarasanthe.

Special puja was held at Omkareshwara Temple since 6 am. Later, ‘Rudra homa’, ‘Mahamangalarati’, ‘Bilvapatra archane’ and other rituals were held.

Sea of devotees visited Omkareshwara Temple, Prajapita Brahmakumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, Veerabhadramuneeshwara, Kundoorumotte Chowdeshwari, Rajarajeshwari and other temples. Temples were decked with leaf buntings and flowers on account of Shivaratri.

Devotees offered ‘abhisheka’ of milk, water, ghee, honey, tender coconut water and flowers to Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Karnangeri. A special puja was offered to 52-feet tall Lord Shiva statue.

A shivalinga using conch were prepared at Muneeshwara Temple at Madikeri on account of Maha Shivaratri. A total of 5555 conches were used for the purpose. For the last years, the temple authorities have been preparing a shivalinga using betel leaves and arecanut. This year, a shivalinga made using conch was the centre of attraction at the temple.

‘Mahaganapathi homa’, ‘Veerabhadra utsava murthy shobhayatre’ was held at Muneeshwara Temple.

The shobhayatre passed through Ganapathi beedi, Bannimantapa, Mahadevapete, private bus stand, Junior college road before reaching the temple. After mahapuja, meals were served to the devotees. Special puja will be held at 6 pm on Saturday, said temple committee members.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 21st, 2020