The land of Kodagu is home to “The Kodavas”. Ethnically the Kodavas have a distinct identity when compared to the other ethnic groups in India. The community prides itself for its distinctive tradition, culture, and lifestyle. Puthari is by far the grandest among all the festivals celebrated by the Kodavas. It witnesses the lore and rituals of the land where the Kodavas rejoice in the bounty of the land. The harvest festival of tradition, devotion and cultural splendour marks the arrival of new paddy crop.
With most of the people in Kodagu giving up the cultivation of paddy, puthari has lost its relevance and only symbolic. People were cultivating only paddy till British invasion which took up coffee cultivation subsequently. Today hardly 10- 20 percent of its total area is under paddy. The fields are diverted for construction activities such as resorts, homestays etc. Paddy lands are illegally converted into housing layouts. Large housing layouts come up on the outskirts of each town. Housing layouts are being formed on paddy fields as a result the fragile landscape is damaged by unscrupulous builders.
Kodagu’s shrinking rice fields are a cause for real concern. Almost every major cultural and community activity is anchored in rice cultivation, without which many of our richest traditions would lose their significance, unravelling links and associations.
Shrinking paddy fields and rice cultivation pose a threat to the district in the years to come. Most of the farmers are abandoning paddy fields, while some have converted into coffee and arecanut gardens. Moreover, paddy cultivation has been abandoned in many places due to labour shortage, erratic rainfall, declining paddy prices, man – animal conflict and free government schemes like” Anna Bhagya”.
Sadly, traditions fade away when they are not passed down, losing their relevance in a rapidly changing world influenced by modern trends and globalization. Despite rules and regulations meant to protect them, traditions fade when we turn a blind eye allowing modern influences to overshadow our cultural heritage.
Revive our traditions and cherish them.
HAPPY PUTHARI!
Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah
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