Members of the Makanduru-Mukkodlu Gowda Samaja participated in and celebrated the Kail Muhurtha (Kailpodh) gathering organised by the community in Makanduru village near Madikeri.
After offering prayers at the village deity Sri Bhadrakali Temple, the programme was inaugurated in accordance with tradition by firing at a coconut. The participants then proceeded in a procession along the main street to the VSSN hall. Various entertainment games were organised for children and women of the community. Games included picking grains for small children, a race for boys carrying a cup on their heads, a sack race, a lemon-and-spoon race for girls and the Bomb in the City game for women. Everyone took part enthusiastically.
Senior community member and donor of the Gowda Samaja land, Kumbagowdana Pushpa Uttappa, who was the chief guest at the meeting that followed, said community members should live together in unity. He called upon parents to teach children their culture and work to preserve and develop it. He also urged children to cultivate the habit of reading books and increase their knowledge, and stressed the need to help the poor.
Veterinary Officer Nangaru Mohan Kumar said community members should participate in such programmes in large numbers. Such gatherings provide an opportunity to share one another’s joys and difficulties and also offer a sense of togetherness and relief. He announced that from the next academic year, incentive prizes would be given to children who excel in education.
Gowda Women’s Federation president Thootera Rita Jayaprakash said everyone should come together to celebrate their cultural traditions. She urged members to come forward and bring honour to the community and said the women’s federation had been formed for this purpose. Although festivals are celebrated in individual homes, there is greater meaning in celebrating them collectively, she said.
Association member and journalist Kudekal Santosh said the community’s customs and traditions are generally known and are followed in individual homes. However, he said it was encouraging that such traditions were being celebrated through community organisations to strengthen unity and bonds among members. He said children were being encouraged through sports and talent awards while also being introduced to their culture. He appealed to everyone to support the office-bearers who work hard to organise such programmes.
Community president Lakkappana Harish, who presided over the programme, said senior members had worked hard to establish the Gowda Samaja to bring together community members from the Makanduru-Mukkodlu area. Continuing this work was both a duty and a responsibility of the present generation, he said, and appealed for similar support for all future activities of the organisation.
On the occasion, children of members who had secured the highest marks in Class 10 and PUC, as well as the highest marks in Kannada, were honoured with talent awards. Prizes were distributed to winners of the sports competitions.
Vice-president Kottakeriyan Pradeep, former president Thootera Venkataramana, senior member Chowki Mane Raghu Thimmaiah, former Makanduru Gram Panchayat member Kattemane Ganesh, Kenjana Basappa and Kumbagowdana Jalajakshi, director of the Federation of Kodagu Gowda Samajas, were among those on the dais.
Gowda Samaja director and former Gram Panchayat member Annechira Satish welcomed the gathering. Society secretary Chiyanda Sujay presented the report, while treasurer Guddemane Yogananda distributed the prizes. Office-bearers of the Women’s Federation assisted in the programme.
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