The padayatra by the Akhila Kodava Samaja and various Kodava Organisations began from Kutta on February 2 covered a distance of 84 kms for six consecutive days and ended on Madikeri recently on Friday 7th of February. Urging for the fulfilment of their demands, including initiating measures to prevent insult to Kodava people and Kodava culture at religious places.
The final day of padayatra began at around 10.00 am from the Sri Bhagavathi Temple in Kaggodlu and reached General Thimayya circle around 12.30 pm where large numbers of Kodava community joined together from Mysore road, from Mangalore road and from all corners of Kodagu and held a very disciplined protest with a traditional dress Kuppiya Chale and mandethuni, kodavathipodiya and Vastra and Dudikot Pat, Komb trumpet.
“Save Kodava Culture’ slogans were displayed by thousands of people who were gathered at the padayathra and marched peacefully at Madikeri and finally gathered at Kodava Mandh near Junior college grounds and concluded by handing over the demands to the district administration.
Paradanda Subramani Kaverappa, Akhila Kodava Samaja president speaking on the occasion urged to initiate strict measures against the priest of Mahamrityunjaya Temple in Kattemadu village, who had renamed the temple as Mrityunjaya Temple, and had stopped people wearing traditional Kodava attire, from entering the temple during the annual festival.
He also demanded that strict legal action must be taken against those who used derogatory words against the brave soldiers of Kodagu, on social media.
He further said that the Kodava organisation will not take part in peace meetings if action is not taken against those who insulted Kodavas.
Subramani Kaverappa, speaking on the occasion urged to restrict the activities which have been preventing Kodava people from taking part in religious rituals in Talacauvery.
Actors Harshika Poonacha, Bhuvan Ponnanna and many other Kodavas who were residing outside Kodagu, also took part in the padayatra wearing the traditional attire and supported padayatra in very large numbers.
The prohibitory orders are still clamped in the surroundings of Kattemadu Temple following a tense situation after people in traditional attire were prevented from entering the temple during the annual temple fair in December.
