The “birth of river Kaveri” in Kodagu is celebrated as a festival on the day of Tula Sankramana. River Kaveri bubbles and gushes forth as Theertha (holy water) from her place of birth at the precise moment when the sun enters the Tula rasi.(Transition of the Sun from Kanya Rashi (Virgo) into Tula Rashi (Libra). Usually falls during 17/18th October)
During this time locals usually pitch a couple of bamboo/wooden stakes of a ponga/Kaanda Tree tied atop with Bothh/kaibili Creeper(Gnetum ula) and decorated with flowers. It is pitched near paddy fields, cattle sheds, verandahs, wells and manure pits etc.
Mythology points towards River Kaveri instructing locals to do so to assert the ownership of their lands in this format.
Seen here is a Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra perched on top of such a Bothh katt.
Happy Kaveri Changrandhi to One and All.
Shot in Coorg, October 2026 By Dr.Bishan Monnappa
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Huh interesting. Thanks for that anecdotal info along with your lovely photos