The beauty in the way of a farmer or a nature worshipper is that he celebrates the new year by dedicating himself to agriculture. There are the principles that help found our rich culture which have not been lost even with the increasing modernization and influences from various culture and communities.
Edmyaar ond (the first day of the Kodava month of edmyaar ) is the new year for the kodavas. The day falls on April 14th which marks the commencement of the Kodava calendar and the agricultural cycle in kodagu. On this day prayers are said and cattle are yoked and made to plough the paddy fields to symbolically mark the occasion and get ready for the field work.
Bisu changrandhi the Kodava new year’s day corresponding to Vishu in Kerala and Vaisakhi in North India, is observed in Mid – April also called Edmyaar ondh.
The kodavas, an ethnic group native to the kodagu region of karnataka, have a deep- rooted connection with Agriculture. The kodavas have been practicing agriculture for centuries, with their unique farming techniques and rituals passed down through generations. The region’s fertile soil, favorable climate, and abundant rainfall made it an ideal place for farming.
Agriculture plays a significant role in Kodava culture, with many of their festivals and rituals centered around farming.
The connection between the kodavas and Agriculture is deep- rooted and multi faceted. Their culture and traditions and identity are intricately linked to the land and farming practices. While modernization has brought changes to traditional farming practices, there are efforts underway to preserve and promote sustainable agriculture and traditional knowledge among the Kodavas.
With most of the Kodavas giving up the cultivation of paddy, BISU has lost its relevance and only symbolic.
People were cultivating only paddy till British invasion which took up coffee cultivation, subsequently. Today hardly 10 to 20 percent of its total area is under paddy. The feilds are diverted for construction activities such as resorts, homestays etc. Paddy lands are illegally converted into housing layouts which 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, unraveling 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 conflicts and free Government schemes like ” Anna Bagya”.
As Kodavas moved out of Kodagu to live in the cities, Edmyaar ond observed in the fields, is no longer celebrated by them. The disappearance of paddy fields and oxen has led to the further neglect of the festival by kodavas. Therefore, the significance of Edmyaar ond gradually faded.
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.
