Kodagu district celebrated Huttari festival which commenced with the observation of the “Nere Kattuvudu’ ritual at Padi Igguthappa Temple near Napoklu in the auspicious Karkataka Lagna and Rohini Nakshatra at 7.30 pm recently. The harvest of paddy was done at 8.30 pm followed by a dinner at 9.30 pm. In other places of Kodagu, the rituals began at 7.50 pm with the cutting of new paddy at 8.50 pm and the dinner at 9.50 pm.
With plenty of rainfall during the year and filling of lakes and rivers, the paddy crops have grown well, and the countdown for the harvest has also started. The festival started with bursting of fireworks. Celebrations were also held at ancestral homes, temples, and various community halls.
Following the festival, traditional Kodava art forms, such as Puttari Kolaat, Bolakkaat, Kattiyaat, Baloppaat, Pareyakali, Vaalagattaat, and Kodavapaatwere also held.