A traditional and folk sport recently caught my attention. A 40 feet high pole was erected on the ground with a slushy pond surrounding its base. A platform was placed at the tip of the pole and a person was sitting inside it. Enthusiastic participants had gathered for the sport and were being cheered with the beats of folk instruments. Then, two among them tried to climb the pole and the person sitting above tried to obstruct him. As and when the youths fell down on the slush, the audience cheered them to try harder.
At first instance, this sport, called Utlamaanu, resembles the Mallakamba sport which is popular in North Karnataka. In this traditional sport, participants climb a pole which is much higher than the Mallakamba pole. While in Mallakamba, oil is applied to the pole and participants climb it one after the other, in Utlamaanu, slush is poured on the pole and the entire sport is a team effort.
Crowd-puller
Utlamaanu is basically a Telugu word. It is folk as well as an entertaining sport and is called Utlamara is Kannada. Villages along the Karnataka-Andhra border in Sidlaghatta taluk and Pavagad taluk in Karnataka and in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh host fairs (jathra) nine days after the Ugadi festival. Utlamara competitions are an integral part of these fairs. Though these villages worship different deities during the fair, their traditions and customs are the same.
Utlamara competitions in these fairs draw a lot of crowds. The preparations for the competition begin one week before the fair. A 40 to 45 feet high tree trunk which is smooth and straight is chosen for the competition. The tree trunk is that of a local variety tree, mostly tamarind or Attimara. This tree trunk itself is called the Utlamaanu or Utlamara. The tree trunk used for the sport is generally protected for several years (In recent years, a permanent cement pole is constructed in a few villages for the sport). This tree trunk is then erected at a specific spot and is fastened using ropes in four to five directions so that it stands firm. A platform is tied at the tip of the Utlamara. Later, a clay pot filled with slush is kept in it.
Before the participants of the competition climb the pole, a man climbs and sits on the platform with the help of a rope. Four coconuts are tied around the platform using coconut fibres. Another coconut is suspended from the top and this is called the ‘Utlakaai’. When the participants climb the pole to break the Utlakaai, the person sitting on the platform pours slush on the pole making it difficult for them to climb. A small pond of 10 to 15 feet diameter is carved at the base of the pole and those climbing the pole have to get down in this slushy pond itself.
On the day of the fair, the villagers hold specific pujas with Aarathi of tambittu (a sweet) or jaggery. After this, annadana
(mass feeding) programme is held and then, groups of enthusiastic youths gather near the Utlamara to participate in the competition. The sound of a musical instrument called Urame reverberates intimating people about the sport.
There are two parts of the sport. Firstly, the Utlakaai is tied to the string and then a person holds it at the top. Those standing at the bottom try to break that Utlakaai using long sticks and those holding the Utlakai try to avoid being hit. This continues for about one hour and offers entertainment to the people watching it. In the second part of the competition, the participants try to climb the Utlamara. Those climbing the Utlamara do not have any food right from that day morning. Before climbing, they take a dip in the water and receive the prasada and kunkum in wet clothes itself. As the sound of the urame and cheers fill the air, a group of seven to eight youths get into the slushy pond and surround the base of the pole. They form a human pyramid and two of them try to climb the pole while the person sitting on the platform pours slush on them. However, braving these hindrances, the youths try to climb the Utlamara. As the pole gets slushy, it becomes slippery too. Even if one person slips, the others directly land on the slushy pond beneath. In that case, they again need to have a bath in cold water and try for the second time.
Platform for talents
The essence of the sport lies in the efforts made by the participants who also showcase their skills, strength and talent through their performance. The efforts go on becoming harder as the beats of the Urame become louder. Tension grips when the person who is just about to reach the goal slips from the pole. The competition is so tough that those who succeed in climbing at least half the pole height are considered as champions.
The person who climbs the pole without losing balance takes off the coconut tied there and emerges as the winner. Those watching them too celebrate that moment with great joy and enthusiasm. This sport needs a lot of physical strength and skills and so, it is doubtful if it would have survived had it just been a sport. Maybe due to this reason, our ancestors bonded it with traditions and gave it a divine feel. Realising its importance, a few voluntary organisations have kept the Utlamara tradition alive and celebrate it on Environment Day every year.
(Translated by Divyashri Mudakavi)
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