Summer heralds a torrid time for the people of Kodagu. But, the Kodava family hockey festival being organised by various Kodava families every year is looked forward to by all eagerly during April and May. It is called a festival because all members of a Kodava family, irrespective of age and gender, can represent it in the tournament. The Kodava family hockey festival has found a place in the Limca Book of Records for many reasons. It is the largest ever hockey event to be organised in any part of the world at one stretch. Even if a team managed with 16 players, about 220 teams would make a formidable over 3,500 players in all. There are 30 recognised hockey umpires officiating in the festival. A couple of them are international umpires. The Kodava Hockey Academy, which came into existence after the launch of the Kodava family hockey festival, has the final say over all matters related to the tournament. This family tournament dates back to 1997 when Pandanda Kuttappa and his brother Kashi thought of having a common platform where all the Kodavas could come together and play the game they love most. The first was the "Pandanda Cup" in 1997 at Karada in which 60 Kodava family teams participated. The tournament has grown rapidly in size since then.

Year	Organising Family	No. of Teams	Venue	Winner
1997	Pandanda	60	Karada	Kaliyanda
1998	Kodira	116	Kadanga	Kulletira
1999	Ballachanda	140	Kakotuparambu	Koothanda/ Kulletira
2000	Cheppudira	170	Ponnampet	Koothanda
2001	Nellamakkada	226	Ammathi	Koothanda
2002	Chekkera	252	Hudikeri	Kulletira
2003	Kaliyanda	280	Napoklu	Nellamakkada
2004	Maleyanda	235	Madapur	Nellamakkada
2005	Biddanda	222	Madikeri	Nellamakkada

Sources:
1. The Hindu
2. Bharathiya Hockey
3. prideofindia.net (Picture of Pandanda Kuttappa)
4. Rediff News (Picture of Pandanda Kuttappa receving the award)

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