Important Kodagu Festivals:
People from Kodagu celebrate some Hindu festivals such as shivaratri, ugadi, sankramana and shashti. In addition, they have their own festivals like Kailapoadu, Cauvery sankramana and Huttari (Puthari). These three festivals are normally celebrated by people all over Kodagu (Coorg). Cauveramma and Iggutappa deva are the two main gods worshipped in kodagu.
Kodavas are traditionally agriculturists and most of their rituals, traditions and festivities centre on agriculture. In a year, almost six months of their lives are spent in the fields, cultivating and harvesting and the rest of the six months is spent in hunting as a community sport, and also in guarding their fields from the destructive wild animals.
Cauvery Sankramana: On 17th October every year, the people of Kodagu look forward to this annual festival. It is believed that Goddess Cauvery appears in the form of a sudden upsurge of water in a small tank to give darshan to the innumerable devotees gathered here. This event is known as theerthodbhava and is celebrated with much festivity in Kodagu. Thousands flock to witness the event and seek the Goddess’s blessings, bathe in her waters and carry back bottles full of holy water from the source of the river.
Kailpodh: Traditionally Kodavas belong to the martial race and depended on the guns for livelihood. It is in this context that arms and ammunitions have become an integral part of their culture. The festival of arms is when Kodavas invoke the blessings of the gods upon their weapons and gather at the village green to test their marksmanship with guns.
Puthari: This is a festival of harvest and is the most popular festival of Kodagu (Coorg). This will be performed on full moon day every year in the month of November/December generally. Meaning of the word 'Puthari' is new rice. The festival symbolizes the solemn beginning of the use of new rice from freshly conducted harvest season for offering in the temple. As a tradition, thambuttu and Payasam (pudding made with rice and milk) is prepared with new rice for offering to the Lord on the auspicious occasion.
Another custom of Puthari entails cutting of little paddy crop which is ready for harvest. It is bound in small bunches and handed over to all those present in the fair as a present. This is to be preserved as an omen of prosperity.
Folk culture of Kodagu can be witnessed in all its splendor during Puthari as the villagers sing conventional songs, burst fire crackers and perform different types of folk dances in the traditional temple fairs.