Madikeri:
Every year on October 17, holy water is believed to gush out at the origin of river Cauvery in Talacauvery. The place is visited by thousands of people to share the holy and water and take part in a holy dip.

The ‘tirthodbhava’, as the phenomenon is called, took place at 5-55 am on Wednesday, October 17.

District minister in charge Mandepanda P Appachu Ranjan and family, Kodagu deputy commissioner Dr A N V Prasad, ZP president B Shivappa and member N S Raja Rao, district superintendent of police Manjunath Annigeri, ZP CEO K B Anjanappa, temple management committee president Manu Muttappa, additional DC Dr N Shivashankar, assistant commissioner G Prabhu, tahsildar Vasudevacharya, executive officer Jagadish Kumar, Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy president Addanda C Cariappa and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.mangalorean.com / Team Mangalorean – Madikeri / from Ashwini Appaiah, with Vartha pics / October 17th, 2012

Madikeri, October 13:

Sri Bhagandeshwara-Talacauvery Temple Committee President Manu Muthappa has said that the management of the Temple in Talacauvery has following dress code for visitors from Friday.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting on Talacauvery Theerthodbhava, held at Bhagamandala on Friday, he said devotees clad in skirts, capri pants (above ankle) and shorts will be prohibited from entering the temple premises. The devotees should support the move of the temple. Display boards have been installed in Bhagamandala and Talacauvery for the convenience of the devotees.

He said the visitors have to follow and maintain the sanctity of the place. Men should wear shirt and trousers while women are required to wear saree or chudidhar. A notice has been put on the entrance of the temple on the dress code.

The preparations for the Theerthodbhava is in full swing. The temple committee will supply meals this year.

Zilla Panchayat Vice-President Usha Devamma called upon the official to get ready for the Theerthodbhava. The police should ensure that law and order situation is not affected.

Later, Taluk Panchayat President Reena Jagannath inaugurated seva counter at the temple.

Zilla Panchayat member S N Raja Rao inaugurated the counter where traditional dress would be made available for the devotees.

PWD Executive Engineer Dodda Siddaiah, Zilla Panchayat Executive Engineer Manjunath, District Health Officer Dr SHivakumar, agriculture department joint director Shivamallu and others were present at the meeting

source: http://www.coastaldigest.com / Home> News / by DHNS / Saturday, October 13th, 2012

Madikeri:
The third and final day of ‘Kodava Namme’ programme held under the aegis of the federation of Kodava Samajas in the Balugodu village of Virajpet taluk in the district was marked by a string of cultural programmes on Sunday, Oct 14.

MLC and former minister Merianda C Nanaiah, Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited managing director Avaremadanda K Monnappa, Arun Machaiah, All India Kodava Samaj president Matanda Monnappa, Ammatti Kodava Samaj president Mookonda Bose Devaiah, Virajpet Kodava Samaj president Kalianda P Tammaiah, Ponnampet Kodava Samaj president Cheppudira Ponnappa, veteran community leader Paradanda Chengappa, Mysore Kodava Samaj president Nadikerianda Kuttappa, Kodira Kushalappa, Kodava Samaj federation president Dada Belliappa of Bangalore and others jointly launched programme.

Earlier M C Nanaiah said that with a view to not only promoting Kodava culture, traditions and customs, but also bringing together Kodava families in the midst of present complexities of life, programmes like ‘Kodava Namme’ were being held. He revealed that there were plans to hold such events two or three times in a year in the coming days.

Speaking further, Nanaiah gave a call to all Kodava Samajas to introduce the Kodava culture and traditions to the world. He requested all Kodavas living outside the district not to entertain an alien feeling but to strive further toward higher goals in the society.

He also suggested that all communities living in Kodagu should contribute towards the progress and development of the district. The original owners of landed property here should not sell it and instead retain their identity. The environment and unique nature of Kodagu should be protected. Unauthorized homestays mushrooming in the district should be checked and proper guidelines for such trade should be formulated, he added.

Napanda Ravi Kalappa, district Kodava Samaj president Suresh Chengappa, Sannuvanda Kaverappa and others were present on the occasion. Different ethnic Kodava families competed with each other in presenting colouful ummattat, bolakkatt, kattiatt, kolatt and the like.

Participation by Kodava families from distant places of current domicile and cities was a distinct feature of the programme.

source: http://www.Mangalorean.com / Home / by Richard Lasrado /with inputs from Ashwini Appaiah / Vartha pics / October 14th, 2012

Madikeri:
Spectators to Madikeri Dasara fete in Kodagu was growing by the year, till it found a new competitor in Gonikoppal Dasara.

While Madikeri Dasara largely caters to people of north Kodagu, Gonikoppal Dasara enthralls the people down south with a variety of programmes. Adding to this, the government has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for Gonikoppal Dasara this year, thanks to Virajpet MLA and Speaker K G Bopaiah.

As part of the celebrations, a state-level hockey tourney and a national-level dirt-bike racing competition will be held. The work is in full swing to set a huge podium (costing Rs 5 lakh), where various cultural programmes will be held after the procession of tableaux.

Dasara committee working president Girish Ganapathi said an idol of Chamundeswhari will be installed on Tuesday. Cultural programmes which will be held daily till October 24. Nine tableaux will be showcased in ‘Shobayathra’, a traditional event.

Kullachanda Bopanna, general secretary of the committee, said: “Off late, Gonikoppal Dasara is attracting more viewers form outside south Kodagu region.”

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by C. Rajendra, TNN / October 16th, 2012

Mysore:
The authorities are giving an opportunity for rural people to visit tourist spots like Mysore Palace, Mysore Zoo and Chamundi Hills during Dasara all for just Rs 50.

Dasara Darshan, a novel initiative launched by former district minister Shobha Karandlaje four years ago, aims at bringing around 10,500 villagers from Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu districts. The initiative is to enable them to see the city in all its grandeur during the festive season. The initiative has been a hit with many villagers, who have benefitted from Darshan, appreciating the initiative.

Under the project, people from 29 taluks in these districts will be brought to Mysore for sight-seeing and then be taken back to their places in KSRTC buses between October 17 and 22.

KSRTC (urban) divisional controller M N Srinivas, secretary of Dasara Darshan sub-committee, told reporters that they have met the tahsildars of the respective taluks. They have been assigned the task of selecting the villagers. “We are reserving 200 buses for the project. This arrangement will, however, not affect the bus services,” he added.

Committee chief H M Sunandaraj said: “I have requested the district minister to provide additional 100 buses to bring rural women to Mysore.” Vice-president Kirankumar said around 12-15 villagers will be selected from each gram panchayat.

The committee has been given Rs 15 lakh for Dasara Darshan. In addition to this, it will raise Rs 5.25 lakh from tickets, which will be utilized for arranging transport. Srinivas said one official will be deployed in each bus to safely ferry the villagers to Mysore and back. They will be picked-up at their respective taluk headquarters. “We are also reserving medical staff as a precautionary measure,” the DC stated.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by Lawrence Milton, TNN / October 12th, 2012