“KAIL MUHURTHA” A SPECIAL FESTIVAL IN KODAGU

Kodagu people especially Kodavas celebrate “Kail Muhurtha” festival : This falls on 3rd September. This marks the end of transplanting in the rice fields. Worship and use of arms, and rededication to the cause of the land is the importance of the day.

Kail Muhurtha is also called as “Kailpoldhu” in the local Kodava language is celebrated in the first week of September, all over Kodagu.. Priests in consultation with their temple documents determine the exact date of celebration. Invariably it falls between the 2nd and 4th of September. Kail - means Weapon or Armory and Poldh - means Worship.

Normally, during the months in which the family is engaged in the fields, all the guns and swords etc are deposited in the "Kanni Kombre" meaning the Pooja room. On the Kailpoldhu day, which incidentally signifies the completion of "Nati"- meaning the transplantation of paddy crop, The men should get ready for guarding their crop from wild boars and other animals. Hence, on the Kailpoldhu day, the weapons are taken out of the Pooja room, cleaned and decorated with flowers. They are then kept in the " Nellakki Nadubaday " - the place of community worship.

All the members of the family have their bath and perform Pooja to these weapons. Sumptuous meal follows, invariably consisting of pandhi curry (spicy dish of pork). Other dishes peculiar to the Kodavas include ‘rotis’ made of rice and ‘kadumbuttu’, a kind of steamed ball also made out of rice. Men enjoy a drink or two (or more) also. After the food, the eldest member of the family will hand over the gun to the senior member of the family, signifying the commencement of the festivities.

Then the whole family assembles in the " Mandh " (a open ground), where physical contests and sports including shooting are conducted. In the earlier days hunting and cooking of the wild animals was an integral part of the celebration, but these days the shooting skills are tested by firing at the coconut tied on top of the tree. From this day onwards, the men will spend a lot of time in guarding their fields from wild animals.

The Codava National Council under the leadership of N.U.Nachappa has already celebrated “Kail Muhurtha” festival.. The C.N.C took a procession in Madikeri town. The celebration was arranged in Capitol Village three K.Ms from here. Cutting of the banana saplings marked the commencement of the festival. Gunshot in the air is another tradition. Professor Balavir,the rector, Jawhar University, New Delhi had also participated as a speaker guest.

PHOTOS:1. cutting of Banana Saplings by N.U.Nachappa, the C.N.C leader

2. Gun Shot in the air by Prof. Balvir, rector, Delhi Jawahar University.