Mookonda Kushalappa

Connect:

The ‘therays’ of Kodagu

In Kodagu, this performance is called theray. The performer readies himself with a colourful costume, (often red) and intricately done facial makeup along with head and neck accessories. Sometimes he wears a mask during the act.

17 January 2024, 22:29 IST

The ‘therays’ of Kodagu

17 January 2024, 22:29 IST

Kodava over the years: Letters and sounds

Mookonda Kushalappa chronicles the various attempts to develop a script for the Kodava language

11 May 2023, 07:04 IST

Kodava over the years: Letters and sounds

11 May 2023, 07:04 IST

Tales of temple festivals

Mookonda Kushalappa describes Kodagu temple festival traditions and the unique stories behind them

20 April 2023, 07:03 IST

Tales of temple festivals

20 April 2023, 07:03 IST

Of lore written on silken leaves

Kodava traditions and celebrations are centred around a rich oral folk tradition. Mookonda Kushalappa tells the stories of those that kept it alive

06 April 2023, 02:15 IST

Of lore written on silken leaves

06 April 2023, 02:15 IST

The Sandooka-makers of Kodagu

In the village of Bilugunda in Kodagu district is a Bhadra-Kaali temple. At the centre of its annual festival, is the ‘kudure’ procession — a group of Kodavas centred around a boy wearing a hollow frame with the head and body of a horse. During this festival, an oracle called Airira Devani accompanies the procession, as his father Boju used to in the past. ‘Kodava’ is both the name of a caste and a language. Around twenty castes of Kodagu, besides the Kodavas, speak the language. The Airi are one of them. Airira is the most common family name among this community.

09 February 2023, 08:16 IST

The Sandooka-makers of Kodagu

09 February 2023, 08:16 IST

Tiranga replaced Union Jack often pre-1947 in Kodagu

In 1930, the tiranga was hoisted at a number of villages in Kodagu district

10 August 2022, 02:45 IST

Tiranga replaced Union Jack many times much before 1947 in Kodagu

Tiranga replaced Union Jack often pre-1947 in Kodagu

10 August 2022, 02:45 IST

Forests of the gods

A few thick forests have been left untouched for ages. Though close to human habitation, these forests have been withstood the test of time for religious and ecological reasons. Here, the air is cool and sunlight streams in through miniscule gaps in the canopy. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala have thousands of such sacred spaces.

26 May 2022, 04:17 IST

Forests of the gods

26 May 2022, 04:17 IST

A festival of cross-dressing

19 May 2022, 02:54 IST

A festival of cross-dressing

19 May 2022, 02:54 IST

Gen Thimayya: A distinguished life

Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General K S Thimayya, both from Kodagu, broke down several barriers for Indians in the army

24 March 2022, 10:17 IST

Gen Thimayya: A distinguished life

24 March 2022, 10:17 IST

The discovery of an old alphabet

The Kodava language is the descendant of the Tamil-Kodagu branch of the Dravidian language family

04 February 2022, 20:14 IST

The discovery of an old alphabet

04 February 2022, 20:14 IST