Coorg

Festive Celebrations

Kailpodhu is more popularly known as the Festival of Arms celebrated in September. During this, all weapons and arms are removed, cleaned, polished and worshipped before being put to use. The festival also signifies the day when men prepare to guard their crop from wild boars. The entire family assembles in the open ground and various entertainment and sporting activities take place. The sports are conducted in community groups called Kodava Samajas. Held in mid-October, Kaveri Sankramana is associated with the river Cauvery. At a predetermined time, when the sun enters Tula Rasi, a fountain from a small tank is said to fill the bigger holy tank at Talacauvery. At this time, people throng in thousands to take a dip in this holy water as well as collect the water in bottles to carry along. Married women especially adorn themselves with new clothes and make offerings to Goddess Cauvery. The Goddess is prayed to by offerings of rice. A hearty meal is prepared which consist of a wide variety of vegetarian delicacies. Puttari which literally means New Rice is the rice harvest festival. The festival takes place late November or early December and is a time for the entire family to assemble in their main courtyard, which is decorated with flowers, green mango and banana leaves. Everyone reaches the paddy fields and a gun is fired to signify the beginning of the harvest. A wide variety of mouth watering dishes are also prepared in celebration.