The United Kodava Organisation (UKO) has formally appealed to Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar to address the long-standing demands of the Kodava ethnic community.
This appeal follows a meeting of the UKO delegation led by President Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa with the MP in Mysuru on Friday.
Yaduveer assured the delegation of his unwavering support. He committed to advancing the community’s concerns with dedication, promising to navigate the necessary processes to achieve a positive and effective resolution.
The delegation, which included notable dignitaries such as former Education Minister of Karnataka and current MLC Adagur H. Vishwanath, played a crucial role in highlighting the community’s needs. Vishwanathprovided valuable insights into the issues and stressed the urgency of addressing them.
Three primary demands
• Inclusion of Kodava community in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBC) to ensure equitable opportunities in education, employment and governance.
• Inclusion of Kodava Language in Central Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL) and Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing (ASMITA) Projects to preserve and promote Kodava thakk, which is on the brink of extinction.
• Inclusion of Kodava Language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution to recognise and protect the linguistic and cultural identity of the Kodava community.
The delegation emphasised the historical struggles of the Kodava community since Kodagu’s integration with Karnataka in 1956.
They argued that these demands are crucial for the preservation of Kodava language and culture and for gaining access to enhanced educational and employment opportunities through OBC status. Constitutional recognition of the Kodava language would further solidify its protection and promotion.
The Kodava community organises the inter-family hockey tournament every year where Kodava players from over 300 families come together to play.
The Kodava Hockey Namme (festival) will be held from March 30 to April 28 in Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For the Kodava community of the small, hilly district of Kodagu in Karnataka, now scattered across the globe, it’s time to return to their roots for an event that’s deeply ingrained in their cultural fabric — the Kodava Hockey Namme (festival). This annual extravaganza brings together families from far and wide to celebrate their love for hockey and their shared heritage.
Organised in the small town of Napoklu, 21 km away from the district headquarters of Madikeri, this festival is no ordinary affair. Recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments globally, it has earned a place in the Limca Book of Records.
This year, the excitement is soaring as the Kundyolanda family takes the reins, transforming it into the ‘Kundyolanda Hockey Carnival’. The year’s event will be held from March 30 to April 28.
Fostering community spirit
The Kodava community organises the inter-family hockey tournament every year where players from over 300 local families come together to play. The sporting event has no bar on age or gender. The only rule of forming a team is that all members must be from the same family.
Dinesh Cariappa, convenor of the Kundyolanda Hockey Carnival (KHC), said, “This year, we aim to set a new milestone by hosting the largest field hockey tournament yet. It’s not just about the sport. It’s about fostering community spirit and giving back to our people.”
The organisers have introduced a range of initiatives this year, encompassing career guidance sessions, motivational speeches by experts across different domains, all geared towards empowering the youth. Additionally, free health check-ups, discussions on wealth management, and talks covering diverse topics such as defense, aviation, and agriculture have been arranged for attendees.
Ramesh Muddaiah, president of Kundyolanda Hockey Carnival, said, “We are hopeful that the Karnataka Government will extend its support to the hockey festival, just as it has done for previous editions of the event. Government backing would bolster our efforts to make this carnival a grand success.”
Food festival to cultural extravaganza
With 360 families slated to participate, the enthusiasm is palpable. The carnival promises much more than just hockey matches. A food festival showcasing Kodava delicacies and also other cuisine, matrimonial initiatives, and cultural events celebrating the rich heritage of the community are all part of the extravaganza.
“There are plans for educational sessions on traditional Kodava folk songs, popularly known as Baloo Paat, ensuring the preservation of cultural traditions. Apart from these, two marathons — 5 km and 10 km — are scheduled, selfie points dotted across the venue to capture memorable moments, creating lasting memories for attendees,” Mr. Cariappa said.
The carnival kicks off with much fanfare on March 30 with an inaugural match between the Indian Navy team and the Coorg 11 team. It sets the stage for a month-long celebration of sport, culture, and camaraderie.
Kodava Hockey Festival has come a long way
The late Pandanda Kuttappa started the concept of the Kodava family hockey tournament, which later evolved into a significant sporting event and festival. “Mr. Kuttappa initiated the Kodava Family Hockey Tournament in 1997, organised by the Pandanda family initially, with the belief that harnessing the inherent affection Kodavas have for hockey could foster unity among families and the community,” Mr. Cariappa explained.
From the last one decade, the tournament has emerged as a platform for the community members to discuss trade and business interests, besides scouting for marital alliances, according to Mr. Muddaiah. “In the first tournament, which was organised in 1997, nearly 60 teams took part. The format of the tournament was such that every year, one of the Kodava families had to host the event. Now, over 300 families participate involving 3,000 hockey players,” he added.
Preparation for the 2024 edition is underway at the Napoklu General Thimayya Ground, one of the town’s three mud grounds. Temporary bleachers surround the ground to accommodate approximately 30,000 spectators. Various amenities, including galleries, lighting, speakers, and display boards, have been installed.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshab Devaiah B / March 22nd, 2024
The plays will be staged in Kannada and English over three days. Laxmi, who has been performing solo acts for 25 years, has translated and adapted the works.
Laxmi Chandrashekar in ‘Kittalemane Kaveri’.
Abhinethri Festival by Kriyative Theatre Trust will present three plays by theatre artiste Laxmi Chandrashekar, this weekend.
The plays will be staged in Kannada and English over three days. Laxmi, who has been performing solo acts for 25 years, has translated and adapted the works.
On January 12, ‘Singarevva Mattu Aramane’ and its English version ‘Singarevva and the Palace’, a play based on Chandrashekhara Kambara’s namesake play, will be staged. “It is about a woman’s frustration and helplessness, being denied the right to motherhood, how she faces exploitation by all the men in her life and the way she asserts herself in the end,” says Laxmi. The play will be directed by Soumya Varma.
The second play, ‘Shakespearana Srimathi’/ ‘Shakespeare’s Wife’, written by Uday Itagi will be staged on January 13. It has been adapted from Robert Nay’s work based on Shakespeare’s sonnets. “I have taken inputs from feminist writer Germaine Greer’s work ‘Shakespeare’s Wife’, and from other sources to create this play. It depicts the Bard’s wife, Anne Hathaway, in a different light,” she explains. “This play looks at Anne as a committed and strong woman, and a loyal wife”, she elaborate . The play will be directed by Vishwaraj Patil.
The final play provides insights into the Kodava community and has been directed by Soumya. ‘Kittalemane Kaveri’/‘Kaveri of Kittale Villa’, an adaptation of ‘Emily of Emerald Hill’, an English play written by Singaporean writer Stella Kon, will be staged on January 14. “I had lived in Singapore for a while, and I got rights from the writer to stage and adapt it accordingly. Set in the Kodava community now, the play captures their culture, food, customs, and costumes,” she tells Metrolife.
From January 12 to 14, Kannada plays will be staged at 3.30 pm and English plays at 7 pm, at B P Wadia Sabhangana, Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi. Tickets online.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka> Bengaluru / by Tini Sara Anies, Team Metrolife / January 10th, 2024
While documents mention mandhs as paisari land, they are much more than just a piece of land — they are cultural hubs preserving the rich traditions of the Kodava community.
Two Kodava men perform Pare Kali
Madikeri :
A land narrates the culture of the people who reside on it.
Similarly, ‘mandh’, also known as ‘mandh maani’, are tiny pieces of land found in villages of Kodagu, which intimately recite the identity, culture, traditions and way of life of the Kodava people. Even as these pieces of land are given sacrosanct status in several regions of Kodagu, they come alive with vibrant culture during the festivities of the Kodavas. Rich greenery surrounded by age-old trees and serene mountain peaks and the silence of nature broken by the sound of traditional drums and people dancing in tune with the rhythmic sounds — this is a common sight in the mandh regions after the harvest festival of Puthari across Kodagu.
While documents mention mandh as paisari lands, they are much more than just a piece of land — they are cultural hubs preserving the traditions of the Kodava community.
“Known as the cultural centres of the Kodava community, mandhs come alive with traditions and culture once or twice each year. Folk dance, art, culture and traditions of the Kodava community are exhibited on mandhs. While mandhs are mostly sacrosanct places, they bustle with activith during Kailpodh and Puthari festivities,” explained Madetira Beliappa, former joint secretary, Madikeri Kodava Samaj, a member of Kodava Sahitya Academy and an artiste at Madikeri Akashvani. He is also president of the uru mandh (village mandh) of Kadagadal village.
A group of men perform Balo Paat, a traditional performance, during a temple festival
As he explains, mandhs are a connection between an individual and society. They play the role of multipurpose auditoriums and have taken up preserving and promoting the rich Kodava culture. “Mandhs are the first places that introduce the culture of the community to children. They also adorn the role of training spots,” K Shashi Somaiah, a resident of Madikeri, adds.
Promotion of culture, tradition After Puthari, the community participates in a cultural extravaganza. Cultural programmes are not hosted amid the four walls but on mandhs. Puthari Kolat is a folk dance that is hosted right after a harvest. After paddy is harvested, every village hosts Puthari Kolat aka Puthari Mandh Namme across the mandhs. While Kolata is performed with colourful sticks that are usually short, lengthy canes are used to perform Puthari Kolat. The villagers get together at the mandh even as they take part in the Kolaat.
“During ancestral times, Puthari Kolat used to be hosted across all mandh regions up to five days after Puthari. While the Kolat started off at one mandh, it ended at the main mandh of the district on the fifth day of the festivities. After this, the sound of the canes falls silent,” explains Beliappa. He, however, added that Puthari Kolat is now hosted across the mandhs throughout the month.
Right after the timings are fixed following astrological readings to observe the harvest festival of Puthari, every village prepares to host Puthari Namme across the mandh regions. “Currently, committees are formed by villagers to host these cultural programmes. Every village has a head from one particular Kodava clan and they are called thakkas. They call for a meeting even as finance for it is crowd-funded,” Beliappa adds. While Koalat forms the basis of the cultural programmes, several other folk arts, including Balo Paat (songs in praise of the village, village heads and deities), Bolkaat (traditional lamp dance), Umathaat (a traditional dance performed by women) and Pareyakali (a mock fight with canes to exhibit the warrior culture) also take place.
A group of Kodava men perform Kolaat in their traditional attire
Apart from Puthari, the mandhs also come alive during the festival of Kailpoldh. While Puthari calls for a cultural extravaganza, Kailpoldh festivities call for unique sports activities — from coconut shooting to throwing heavy stones, the mandhs exhibit the warrior culture of the Kodava clans.
The mandh is also filled with activities during the ancient practice of nari mangala (tiger wedding). As Beliappa explains, “Kodavas were warriors who often hunted in the bygone era. When a warrior kills a tiger, a ritual called nari mangala — where the warrior is married to the tiger he killed – is conducted with unique wedding-like rituals.”
Kinds of mandhs
Mandhs are categorised into different types and have an ancestral history. In ancestral times, mandhs were not just cultural hubs but played a more serious role of courts providing justice. Any village dispute would be settled amicably in mandhs. Like the hierarchy in courts, mandhs were also divided into categories.
Vaade is the mandh attached to the traditional houses of Ain Mane and they are in the possession of a single family. Then there is Keri mandh which belongs to the entire village. Uru mandh falls under two or more villages and the Naad mandh are regions that fall under a cluster of big villages. Seeme mandhs are the biggest mandh regions, which according to community elders, hold the prominence of the Supreme Court that declares the final verdict.
Mandhs started losing their importance a few decades ago. While the district had over 240 mandhs, only 70 to 80 exist now. Encroachment, government possession and other factors led to the deterioration of the sacrosanct mandhs. Nevertheless, the community is now alert about this situation even as several individuals, Kodava Samajas and other Kodava organisations have initiated the task of reviving mandhs. As Beliappa explains, “As per land documents, mandhs are paisari lands that come under the possession of the government. Over a decade ago, several development projects were carried out on village mandhs by the government. However, the community is now alert and several mandhs have been revived. The community will continue to preserve these sacred lands and changes need to be made to land documents to ensure permanent protection.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / January 07th, 2024
Women from the Kodava community showcase their shooting skills at ‘Thok Namme’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
On Monday, December 18, hundreds of Kodavas in the Kodagu district came together for a unique get together called “Thok Namme” (Gun Carnival), emphasising the cultural significance of the gun in their tradition.
On the occasion of the United Nations World Minorities Rights Day, the Codava National Council (CNC) organised the 14th Annual Public Gun Carnival in the district. Kodavas, during their festivals, engage in the worship of firearms.
Speaking to The Hindu, CNC president Nandineravanda U. Nachappa said, “This is the only such gun carnival in the country, observed annually by members of the Kodava community. It aims to raise awareness about the legislative rights of Kodavas to possess a gun.” The gun carnival event included a collective gun worship ceremony during which guns were adorned with flowers and worshiped. Subsequently, shooting competitions were organized for children, women, and men.
Women from the community enthusiastically took part in the event, showcasing their shooting skills by hitting a coconut hung several yards away. Speaking to The Hindu, Kaliyanda Meena Prakash said, “Equality between men and women is a cherished aspect of our community. Kodava women actively participate in various shooting competitions held throughout the district. Our goal is to train and pass on shooting skills to the younger generation.”
“The guns have a prominent position in the lives of Kodava Kshatra tribals and are being worshiped at the Nellakkiyadi, which is an important place for the tribals,” Mr. Nachappa explained. Senior Congress leader and MLC B.K. Hariprasad, and Virajpet MLA and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s legal advisor A.S. Ponnanna participated at the event.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshan Devaiah B.P. / December 19th, 2023
Funds of nearly Rs 3 crore are being spent for the event that has garnered support from all the Kodava Samajas including the Samajas established abroad.
Members of the Kodava community (Express)
Madikeri :
A Global Kodava Summit aims to unite the Kodava community under a single roof and highlight the culture, traditions, and crises faced by the community. Several members of the community in the district fear that the culture, traditions, and practices of the Kodavas are at stake and will soon vanish.
The summit will host various cultural programmes, exhibitions, and seminars to preserve the unique practices of the Kodavas. It will be hosted by the Connecting Kodavas Trust and will be held on December 29 and 30 in Madikeri.
The summit is the fruit of efforts taken by the trust for several years. “Since 2017, the Connecting Kodavas forum has been involved in collecting details of every Kodava clan from the nook and corner of the district,” said Niran Nanjappa, one of the core members of the Connecting Kodavas Trust.
Meanwhile, volunteers have visited all the villages in the district to document details of the roots of the various Kodava clans.
“As per our research, over 1,000 Kodava clans are in existence. Many other clans have vanished. A few clans have just two members and the biggest clan has over 650 members. All these details are documented and will be revealed during the summit that is likely to witness participation from 20,000 to 25,000 people,” Niran Nanjappa added.
“During our research, we have found several anecdotes relating to the roots, practices and evolution of the Kodava clans. We have insights into the issues that led to the vanishing of several clans too. All these anecdotes will be shared to ensure that the community flourishes and our culture is preserved,” he opined.
“After the summit, we also plan to release websites for each clan so that the members of the clan can track their lineage,”Niran Nanjappa added.
Funds of nearly Rs 3 crore are being spent for the event that has garnered support from all the Kodava Samajas including the Samajas established abroad.
Alongside seminars, the Global Kodava Summit will also have demonstrations of the various practices, architecture, and ancestral history of the community as well as interactive workshops.
The forum also aims to establish a model village in the near future across five to six acres of land to highlight the uniqueness of the community.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / October 31st, 2023
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
The Codava National Council (CNC) delegation met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday at the CM’s Home Office ‘Krishna’ and the meeting was facilitated by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnana.
The Chief Minister assured the CNC delegation that he would address the two major ethnic issues raised by the CNC. Firstly, he pledged to change the official nomenclature of the Codava community from ‘Kodagaru’ to ‘Kodava’ in accordance with the recommendations of the Dr. Dwarakanath Commission.
This change would be implemented soon after the Cabinet meeting and the updated name would be included in Government records and published in the State Gazette, the CM assured.
Secondly, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that a comprehensive ethnographic study would be conducted to determine the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Kodava community. The study will be initiated shortly.
The delegation was led by CNC President Nandineravanda U. Nachappa and comprised over 30 members from the community.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home > News / July 16th, 2023
With urbanisation and changing social structures, nuclear families, which were intrinsic in preserving tradition and rituals, have replaced joint families.
Women and a child don traditional attire at a Keri function
Madikeri:
With urbanisation and changing social structures, nuclear families, which were intrinsic in preserving tradition and rituals, have replaced joint families. To ensure their culture is not lost, various Kodava families in Kodagu district have joined together under one ‘keri’ (colony).
“The concept of ‘keri’ – synonymous with area or colony – started in Bengaluru among the Kodava community. The concept was adopted in the district too, with the first keri being formed 27 years ago,” says Kayapanda Shashi Somaiah, a resident of Madikeri.
As Kodava families started to move to cities from their native villages, the culture of the community was at stake. To prevent this, the keri concept was introduced in towns of Kodagu, including Madikeri, Virajpet and Ponnampet. “There are a total of 12 keris in Madikeri town. Cauvery Keri was among the first to be established in Madikeri. ‘Dechur Keri’ was established in 1998 and is one of the largest compared to other keris,” explains Madeyanda Ravi Kunjiappa, president of Dechur Keri.
He adds that this keri has over 300 members and an annual meeting is held after Puthari festival, which sees the coming together of all members.
Talking about the purpose of a keri, Shashi Somaiah explains, “For instance, if a death takes place in a Kodava family, members may not be acquainted with the rituals that need to be followed. That is when the keri becomes a second family of sorts.
Before relatives arrive from far off places, keri members who stay in the same area come together to help with the rituals.” Keris have a president and directors who are elected by the members once in three years. Emergency funds too are collected. Shashi says, “Death funds are handed over by the keri trust to family members.” The community also bonds over other matters during keri meetings.
“When people from the same community gather under one roof, talks pertaining to marriage also take place. There are instances where two people have been matched during keri functions,” says Ravi Kunjiappa.
Ravi adds, “During annual meetings, children who have achieved in academics or sports are recognised and felicitated. Similarly, elders who have achieved in government services or youngsters who have excelled in various fields will be felicitated and encouraged. Communities get to share their triumphs and trials.” Apart from being a support system, these keris also help in preserving Kodava culture. “The annual meeting becomes a platform for various cultural activities. Youngsters and children are required to take part in this cultural extravaganza. Children get trained by elders in ‘kolata’, ‘umathat’ and various other cultural activities,” says Ravi.
These skills are then put to test in the form of inter-keri competitions organised in each township once in three years. While inter-keri events have been organised in Madikeri six times, Virajpet town saw its first event this year. “Each keri takes turns to organise this function, which aims to unite Kodava families from different keris. The aim is to promote Kodava culture among the younger generation. This is the best way to teach our children about our traditions,” says Madanda Latha Somaiah, a member of Dechur keri.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / March 15th, 2020
Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, the only Indian Air Force (IAF) Officer to be posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), was remembered on Sept. 7 in Madikeri and his valiant actions were recalled by war veterans, defence personnel and political leaders. It has been 57 years since his supreme sacrifice.
They had gathered at the 6-feet-9-inch bronze statue of the Squadron Leader installed at the Old Private Bus Stand Circle and paid their respects. The statue has been mounted on a pedestal.
The event in Madikeri was organised by Kodava Makkada Koota and the members of Ajjamada family. Speaking at the ceremony, Air Marshal (Retd.) Kodandera Nanda Cariappa recalled the bravery displayed by Devayya who came from the tiny district of Kodagu.
“Let us not restrict the Squadron Leader to the Kodava community. He is India’s valiant son and deserves that recognition. He is a role model even now, more than 50 years after his death,” he said.
Katti Mandaiah, President of Ajjamada B. Devayya Memorial Trust, said that it was a proud moment to pay homage to a leader under his huge bronze statue.
Devayya showed dare-devilry at the young age of 32.
The bronze statue weighs 600 kg and Rs. 20 lakh was spent on getting it carved at Kengeri near Bengaluru. The statue installation work was supported by Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum, Kodava Makkada Koota. Thanks to the efforts of all, the Old Private Bus Stand Circle is officially called Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya Circle, he recalled.
Former MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Dr. B.C. Sathish Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum President Col. (Retd.) Kandrathanda Subbaiah, Kodava Makkada Koota President Bollajira B. Aiyappa, Kodagu Superintendent of Police Malachira A. Aiyappa, President of Akhila Karnataka Retired Soldiers Association (Kodagu) Kottukathira B. Somanna and other dignitaries also spoke.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 10th, 2022
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