The annual ‘Kunde Habba’, a traditional festival of the tribals in Kodagu, was celebrated with traditional fervour at Devarapura on Thursday.
Painting their bodies in different colours, the tribals held plastic bottles, tins and plastic drums as musical instruments and danced to the tunes. The use of expletives and the use of abusive words mark the festival. Legend has it that the deity Ayyappa betrayed the tribal people and in revenge they called him by several names.
Tribals from Kanooru, Kutta, Balele, Thithimathi, Hudikeri, Palibetta, Panchavalli in Piriyapattana, Boodithittu, Maldae and other areas gathered in large numbers at Devarapura to take part in the festival. Several young tribal men dressed as women danced and demanded money from people passing on the road.
Liquor ban
As a precautionary measure, the district administration had banned the sale of liquor in Gonikoppa, Palibetta, Thithimathi and Ponnampete.
The tribals reached the Ayyappa temple at Devarapura in the afternoon where the ‘Bhandara Takka’ or custodian of the temple wealth, the Sannuvanda family members were present.
The tribals gave the money that they had collected from begging to the temple and sought pardon from the Almighty at 6 pm before returning to their respective villages.
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