A saga of glorious Tulu calender

Almost lost in the pages of history, Tulunadu had a calender of its own, which was designed to complement the agrarian activities of the Tulu society. Bhakti V Hegde writes about the calender, which now remains with handfull of elderly at the rural areas.

Remembering birthdays to marking things to do for the day, most of us are accustomed to the Julian Calender’s 12 months of 30 or 31 days each. Any deviation from this calender will make life a bit complicated and uneasy. However, probably it is the same convenience that must have made Julian Calender prevail over Gregorian and several other calenders over the years.

It is fascinating to know that ages ago, the Tuluvas had developed their own calender, which was used for daily use not just in the Taulava land but also in certain parts of Kerala. Owing to various reasons today this calender has become a rare knowledge existing mainly among the elderly and the agriculturists in the rural areas. The decline in usage of Tuluva calender is obvious because today’s generation does not even know the names of the months of Tulu calender.

A year is known as ‘Varsa’ or ‘Vorsa’ in Tulu language and the Tulu calender is considered as one of the oldest solar Indian calender. In this calender, the new year or the first day of the Vorsa falls in ‘Paggu’ and the day is called ‘Bisu’ (April 14) and this day is celebrated with great pomp in the Tulunadu. The elaborate celebration of this festival on ‘Mesha Sankramana’ gives it the name ‘Bisu Parba,’ which means a festival as significant and important as ‘Deepavali’ itself.

12 months

Like the Julian calender, even Tulunadu calender has 12 months and the interesting names of the months are ‘Paggu’ (April–May), ‘Besa’ (May–June), ‘Kaartel’ (June–July), ‘Aati’ (July–August), ‘Sona’ (August–September), ‘Nirnaala’ (September–October), ‘Bontyolu’ (October–November), ‘Jaarde’ (November–December), ‘Peraarde’ (December–January), ‘Ponny/Puyinthel’ (January–February), ‘Maayi’ (February–March) and ‘Suggi’ (March–April).

Each month has 30 to 31 days but the emphasis is laid on the full moon day and the new moon day.

The entire Tulu calender complements the agriculture activities, which had been the main occupation of the region.

All agriculture activities and festivals, especially those pertaining to the Bhootas and the Daivas were planned and celebrated according to the ‘Amavase’ (new moon day) and ‘Hunnime’ (full moon day) and Sankranti in this calender.

Unfortunately, breaking of the agrarian society and inclination towards Julian calender led to the decline in usage of this calender.

Today at a very symbollic level, agriculture activities are planned in rural areas according to this calender.

Folk enthusiast Deekaiah who has been on a crusade to popularise Tulu calender has been bringing out printed Tulu calender over the last 15 years. He says that one common thing among most indegenous calenders is that new year begins on April 14.

“It is called by different names. May it be ‘Bisu’ or ‘Vishu’ or ‘Baisakhi’ or ‘Bihu’, all are celebrated on April 14,” he said adding that ‘Pathanaje’ in the month of Besa marks the end of all auspicious activities such as organising of ‘Aata,’ ‘Nema,’ annual fairs of the temples etc.

Curtains fall on such activities and celebrations are re-started with ‘Parba’ or Deepavali.
The day after every Sankranti is Singode and it is considered to be auspicious for Tuluvas. On Singode, the Tuluvas do not give out anything that stands for wealth and wellbeing.

Though some organisations have been now organising programmes based on Tulu calender, the acceptence of the calender among masses has not yet happened.
Most of the individuals and organisations working for the cause of Tulu say that the masses in general and youth in specific must be acquainted to the calender before it fades out of the memory of Tuluvas.