Madikeri :

‘Kakkada Padinet’ (18th day of Aashada) will be celebrated religiously in Kodagu district on Wednesday.

Aashada is an auspicious month for Kodavas and other communities in the district. People, especially Kodava families, prepare a sweet dish made of ‘Ati thoppu’ or ‘Maddu thoppu’ as part of the festivities.

The thoppu (leaves) has medicinal value, and it is said consuming thoppu helps one healthy. The leaves grown in the wild are plucked and boiled in water to get an aromatic juice – a thick dark violet coloured fluid having a unique flavour.

The preparations made using the juice are sweet porridge and rice. ‘Kakkadakoli’ (chicken) is also a special delicacy relished on the day. People from Gowda community also prepare payasa or ghee rice using the leaves on new moon day during Aashada. According to elders, the leaves, if taken along with pepper and honey, reduce excess water in the body.

‘Kakkada’ is a month in the Kodava calendar beginning in mid-July and ending in mid-August. Marriages and other celebrations are not arranged in ‘Kakkada’.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mysore / TNN / August 03rd, 2016