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Thursday, March 28 2024
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Madikeri

Harvest festival ‘Puthari’ celebrated with traditional fervour in Kodagu

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huthari1Madikeri: Puthari, the harvest festival is being celebrated across the district with grandeur and traditional fervour. Puthari means new paddy/rice and the festival marks bringing home the new grown paddy with moon in full splendour on a full moon night.

The Huttari (Puthari) celebrations began at the Igguthappa temple first, soon after dusk and “prasadam” was distributed later. Paddy was taken from the temple to mark the beginning of the festival in the district.

Later, Kodavas in the district led by family heads visited paddy fields in a procession in their traditional attire and harvested the crop. They pour milk at the base of paddy before cutting it and then offer prayers. The festival is observed either in the month of November or December on full moon day. Before harvesting, they shouted slogans “Poli Polio Deva” (Invocation to deity for prosperity) and fired three times in the air and burst crackers.

Thambittu is the special dish for Huttari. Women folk use jaggery, banana and a special root vegetable (Puthari Genasu) in preparing delicious dishes. After preparing “payasam” (sweet) from the new rice and is offered to the God and all the family members joined for food. Many performed traditional dance as well.

Off late, a new trend has started, where families bring new paddy from paddy fields owned by temple trusts spread across the district.

Families rejoice for over a week by dancing in Puthari Kolat, a traditional folk dance. Pareyakali, Bolakat, Kappeyat are other traditional folk dances performed during the festival. Villagers sing and dance and wish the festive mood lasts forever.

“Puthari bappaka bannate baat, Puthari popaka yennate Poyith, Dammaiah puthari nee ommalu Povate” ( Puthari, when you come bring in joy but leave without informing but never leave in a hurry ), form the part of lyrics of the traditional song in Kodava language sung during the festival, celebrated this year on December 3.

Harvest festival ‘Puthari’ celebrated with traditional fervour in Kodagu
Harvest festival ‘Puthari’ celebrated with traditional fervour in Kodagu

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