Organised by Kushalnagar Kodava Samaja, the programme was inaugurated by Zilla Panchayat President Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa who thus threw open a platform to showcase Kodava culture and traditions.
Kodavas dressed in their traditional attire presented a slice of Kodava folk culture by performing ‘Ummathat’, ‘Kolata’, ‘Bolakat’, ‘Kathi Aat’, ‘Valagathat’, ‘Pariyakali’ etc. The mela was not confined to youth. Even kids and elderly took part in the programme with equal zeal.
Inaugurating the event Ravi Kushalappa said that everyone should take up the responsibility of keeping their culture and traditions alive and passing it on to the next generation.
He said that the Kodavas should take this responsibility because Kodava culture and language is distinct from others.
“Number of Kodavas is declining in Kodagu. The Kodavas are migrating to cities to try their fortune. This in future will lead Kodava culture and language towards dangerous end,” he warned.
Kodava Sahithya Academy President Imudiyanda Rani Machaiah presiding over the programme said that Kalamela intends to protect the Kodava culture in its pristine form.
Kodava Sahithya Academy former president Bacharaniyanda P Appanna presided over the session. Kodava Samaja former president Cholanda A Muddappa presented paper on ‘Changing Kodava culture’ while Lecturer Ajjikuttira Sunita Girish presented paper on ‘Kodagu-background of Kodava folklore and history’
