Kodagu district
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (January 2007) |
Kodagu district
Kodagu (Coorg) | |
|---|---|
district | |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Subodh Yadav |
| Population (1991) | |
| • Total | 485,299 |
| Website | www.kodagu.nic.in |
Kodagu (Kannada:ಕೊಡಗು) is a district of Karnataka state in southern India. It is often called by the anglicised name of Coorg. It occupies about 4,100 km² in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. It has a population of 548,561 as of 2001, 13.74% of which is urbanised.
It is bordered by Dakshina Kannada to the northwest, Hassan District to the north, Mysore District to the east, Kannur District of Kerala state to the southwest and Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. The district headquarters is located at Madikeri.
Geography
Kodagu is situated on the eastern slope of the Western Ghats. It is a hilly district; the lowest elevation is 900m above sea-level. The highest peak, Tadiandamol, has an altitude of 1,750m; Pushpagiri is 1,715m high. The principal river is the Kaveri River (Cauvery), which rises at Talakaveri on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, and with its tributaries drains the greater part of Kodagu. In the rainy season, particularly the southwest monsoon from June to the end of September, the rivers flow with violence and great rapidity. In July and August, the rainfall is high, and the month of November is often showery. The yearly rainfall may exceed 4,000mm; in the dense jungle tract, it reaches 3,000 to 3,800mm; in the bamboo district in the west it reaches from 1,500 to 2,500mm. Kodagu has an average temperature of about 15 °C, the extremes being 11 °C and 28 °C. The hottest season is during April and May.
The principal town and district capital is Madikeri or Mercara, with a population of around 30,000. Other significant towns are Virajpet (Viraranjendrapet), and Somwarpet. The district is divided into the three administrative talukas of Madikeri, Virajpet, and Somwarpet.
Representation and politics
At present, three Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are elected from Kodagu to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, one each from Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet talukas. Kodagu is part of the Mangalore Lok Sabha Parliament constituency.
The status of Kodagu was reduced from a state to a district in the year 1956. The Coorg National Council has been active in the region, demanding statehood, dereservation of the scheduled tribe constituency, a separate Lok Sabha constituency, and autonomy.
Flora and fauna
Much of the district is agriculturally cultivated. Characteristic scenery has rice fields in valley bases, with plantation crops with tree cover in the surrounding hills. The most common plantations grow coffee (especially C. robusta although some parts of south Coorg grow C. arabica); however, many other crops are also grown, including black pepper, para rubber, teak, and cocoa. In many regions, there are still naturally grown forests, especially the forest reserves in the south and east.
Kodagu is considered rich in wildlife. The district has three wildlife sanctuaries: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, and one national park, Nagarahole or Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
The flora of the jungle includes Michelia champaca (Champak), Mesua (Ironwood), Diospyros (Ebony and other species), Toona ciliata (Indian mahogany), Chickrassia tubularis (Redcedar), Calophyllum angustifolium (Poon spar), Canarium strictum (Black Dammar), Artocarpus, Dipterocarpus, Garcinia, Euonymus, Cinnamomum, Myristica, Vaccinium, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, Rubus (three species), and a rose. In the undergrowth are found cardamom, Areca, plantains, canes, wild Black pepper, tree and other ferns, and arums. In the forest of the less thickly-wooded bamboo country in the west of Kodagu the most common trees are the Dalbergia latifolia (Black wood), Pterocarpus marsupium (Kino tree), Terminalia tomentosa (Matthi), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Benteak), Anogeissus latifolia (Dindul), Bassia latifolia, Butea monosperma (Flame of the Forest, made infamous in colonial Indian history due to its association with the Battle of Plassey), Nauclea parvifiora, and several species of Acacia, with which, in the eastern part of the district, Teak and Sandalwood occur. Among the fauna may be mentioned the Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Gaur, Boar, and several species of deer. The area is rich in biodiversity,threatened by globalisation.
People
The population in 2001 was 545,322, increasing 11.64% from 1991 to 2001, and 5.75% from 1981 to 1991.
The people of the district comprise distinct ethnic or caste origins. Political and economic domination is with the Kodava community. Other communities include the Tulu, Are Bhase Gowda, Kodava Moplah, Malayali, Tamil, and other smaller communities.
The Kodavas
- See main article Kodava.
The Kodava community numbers about 100,000 in the district, out of a total population of over 500,000. They are of unknown origin, and are ethnically distinct from the other people of the area.
Other communities
The Yerava, or Ravula, live in Kodagu as well as in adjacent Kerala, where they are known as the Adiya. They are primarily Hindu agricultural workers. Among the other communities of Kodagu are the Heggades, cultivators from Malabar; the Ayiri, who constitute the artisan caste; the Medas, who are basket and mat-makers, and act as drummers at feasts; the Binepatta, originally wandering musicians from Malabar, now agriculturists; and the Kavadi, cultivators from Yedenalknad; all these groups speak Kodava Thak, and conform generally to Kodava customs and dress. Of the Tulu people, the Tuluva Gowdas, who live principally along in western Kodagu, are the most important; they speak Tulu and wear the Kodava ethnic dress during ceremonies. Devanga community is also a prominent community in Kodagu, who were once part of the Kodagu King's vast army. Other castes and tribes are the Thiyas and Nairs(the warrior cast of Kerala), immigrants from Kerala; the Vellala, who are Tamils; and the Marathi. Of the Muslims, the most numerous are the Moplahs, who emigrated from Kerala, and the Shaikhs.[1]
Languages
The local and endemic language is Kodava takk.
Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, English and other languages of nearby communities are also spoken or widely understood in the district.
Economy
As a rural region, most of its economy has been based on agriculture, plantations, and forestry. Kodagu is one of the more prosperous parts of Karnataka. This is based primarily on its production of coffee and other plantation products.
Rice is cultivated in the valleys. A variety of other agricultural crops are also grown.
Plantations of coffee became a characteristic of the district through the 20th century. They are typically planted on hillsides too steep for rice growing, and use the shade of existing forests. Coffee has been the source of much local wealth.
In recent years, tourism of various types has started to become more important. In particular, plantation houses have been converted to take visitors, and walking and trekking holidays have become common.
History
- See main article History of Kodagu
Kodagu has been an independent or semi-independent kingdom through much of its known history. Its boundaries varied, often taking in some of the surrounding country, especially toward the east. The modern district of Kodagu was incorporated into the state of Karnataka (then named Mysore) in 1956.
The name
The name is Koḍagu in standard transliteration.
The name has alternative derivations in popular etymology. In one, it is said to be derived from the Kannada kudu, meaning steep or hilly. In the Puranas, Kodagu may be the land called Krodha desa, meaning 'Land of Anger' - the Kodavas here are described as Mleccha, meaning foreigners. It is also said that Kodagu is derived from the word Kodava, Kod means 'give' and avva means 'mother', i.e mother Kaveri, the river Kaveri. The Dravidian Etymological Dictionary, however, treats the name as being etymologically related to Kurukh, the name the Oraon people use for themselves and their language, and suggests a possible connection with the common Dravidian kōṭa, referring to westerly winds and the weather they bring.[1]
The form often used in English, Coorg is derived from this, by a transformation of the retroflex 'ḍ' to 'r' (cf. Maḍikeri to Mercara).
The people are called Kodava (sometimes pluralized as Kodavas in English). The people may also be called Coorgs or Coorgi in English. The name of the language is Kodava Takk.
Festivals
The Kodavas are traditionally warriors and agriculturists. Most of their rituals, traditions, and festivities center around their agriculture and martial bearing. Originally, most of their lives were spent in the fields, cultivating and harvesting, wars, hunting for food, and guarding their fields from destructive wild animals. It is in this context that weaponry has become an integral part of their culture, with an emotional and religious significance.
There are three main festivals; the Festival of Arms or Kailpodhu, Kaveri Shankaramana, and the harvest thanksgiving at Puttari (puthari). These three festivals fall during the period of September to December.
Kailpodhu
Kailpodhu is celebrated on the 3rd of September. That is, on the 18th day after the sun enters the Simha (Leo) Raasi. Kail means weapon or armory, and Pold means festival. The day signifies the completion of "nati" - meaning the transplantation of the rice (paddy) crop.
Normally, during the months in which the family is engaged in the fields, all weapons are deposited in the "Kanni Kombare" or the prayer room. The festival also signifies the day that men should prepare to guard their crop from wild boars and other animals. Hence, on the Kailpoldu day, the weapons are taken out of the Pooja room, cleaned and decorated with flowers. They are then kept in the "Nellakki Nadubade" - central hall of the house, the place of community worship. Each member of the family has a bath and then they worship the weapons. Feasting and drinking follow. The eldest member of the family hands over a gun to the senior member of the family, signifying the commencement of the festivities. The whole family assembles in the "Mand" (open ground), where physical contests and sports, including shooting, are conducted. In the earlier days hunting and cooking of the wild animals was part of the celebration, but these days the shooting skills are tested by firing at a coconut tied on to the branch of a tall tree.
In the earlier days, there were sports like grabbing a coconut from the hands of a group of 8-10 people (thenge porata), throwing a stone about the size of a cricket ball at a coconut from a distance of 10-15 paces (thenge eed), lifting a stone ball of about 30-40cm lying at one's feet and throwing it backwards over the shoulders, etc. These sports are now conducted in community groups called Kodava Samajas in towns and cities.
Kaveri Sankramana
This festival normally takes place in mid-October. It is associated with the river Kaveri, which flows through the district from its source at Talakaveri.
At a predetermined time, when the sun enters Tula Rasi (Tula sankramana,) a fountain from a small tank fills the bigger holy tank at Talakaveri. People throng in thousands to take a dip in this holy water. The water is collected in bottles and reaches every house in Kodagu, and this is called Theertha - holy water. This water is preserved in all Kodava houses, and a spoonful of this water is fed to the dying, in the belief that they will attain moksha (emancipation) and gain entry to heaven.
On this day, married women wearing new silk saris perform puja to a vegetable, usually a cucumber or a coconut, wrapped in a piece of red silk cloth and decorated with flowers and jewels, mainly 'Pathak' (Kodava Mangalasuthra), symbolizing the goddess Kaveri. This is called the Kanni Puje. Kanni means the goddess Parvati, who incarnated as Kaveri. Three sets of betel leaves and areca nut are kept in front of the goddess, with bunches of glass bangles. All the members of the family pray to the goddess by throwing rice and prostrating before the image. The elder members of the family ceremonially bless the younger. Then an older married woman draws water from the well and starts cooking. The menu of the day is dosa and vegetable curry ( usually pumpkin curry (kumbala kari) ) and payasa. Non-vegetarian food is not cooked on that day. This is the only festival wherein non-vegetarian food is not prepared.
Puttari
Puttari means new rice, and is the rice harvest festival (also called huttari in adjacent Kannada-speaking country). This takes place in late November or early December. Celebrations and preparations for this festival start a week in advance.
On the Puttari day, the whole family assemble in their ain mane (the common family house) which is decorated with flowers and green mango and banana leaves. Specific foods are prepared: thambuttu, puttari, kari, and poli poli. Then the eldest member of the family hands a sickle to the head of the family, and one of the women leads a procession to the paddy fields, with a lit lamp in her hands. The path leading to the field is decorated. A gunshot is fired to mark the beginning of the harvest, with chanting of "Poli Poli Deva" (prosperity) by all the people present there. Then the symbolic harvesting of the crop begins. The rice is cut and stacked and tied in odd numbers, and is then carried home, to be offered to the gods there. The younger people then burst firecrackers and revel, symbolizing prosperity. Groups of youngsters then visit the neighboring houses and show off their dancing skills, and are given monetary gifts. A week later, this money is pooled and a community dinner of the entire village is celebrated. All the family members gather for this meal. Dinner normally consists of meat dishes such as pork and fish curry. Alcoholic beverages are also served at such feasts.
Tourist attractions
Talakaveri: The place where River Kaveri originates.
Iruppu Falls: This is a sacred spot in south Kodagu on the Brahmagiri range of hills. River Lakshmana-tirtha flows nearby. Legend says that Rama and Lakshmana passed this way while searching for Sita. Rama asked Lakshmana to fetch some drinking water for him. Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri hills and brought into being the river Lakshmanatirtha. The river descends into a cataract known as the Iruppu Falls. This place is said to possess the power to cleanse one's sins and is visited by thousands of devotees on Shivaratri day. There is temple dedicated to Rama, surrounded by paddy fields, from which point it is a climb up to the falls through natural forest.
Abbey Falls: Scenic waterfall.
Dubare: This is mainly an elephant-capturing and training camp of the Forest Department, at the edge of Dubare forest, on the bank of the river Kaveri, on the Kushalanagara - Siddapur road. The wild elephants are tamed and trained with the help of other tamed elephants and local tribes (the Kurubas). The tamed elephants attend to various jobs during the day and in the evenings they come down to the river to bathe and to be scrubbed clean by their mahouts.
Nagarahole: A national park and wildlife resort.
Bhagamandala is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Kaveri and the Kanika. A third river, the Sujyothi is said to join from underground.
harangi dam:this is dam situated near Coorg.