JOIN USThe annual Kodava family hockey tournament — Madanda Hockey Utsav 2013 will be held at Kodava Okkuta Cultural and Sports Complex at Balugodu near Virajpet from April 14 to May 12.
Madanda family, the hosts this time, are leaving no stone unturned in turning this event a big success. As many as 225 teams will take part in the tournament. This is for the first time that tournament is being organised at Balugodu, a non descript village in Virajpet. Sports committee coordinator Thimmaiah is international rugby player.
The attraction at the inaugural programme will be Bhangra dance of Punjab and variety entertainment by Ponnampet Neenada institute. The exhibition match will be held between Punjab eleven and Kodagu eleven.
Two playgrounds have been decked to host the matches. About 15,000 spectators can view the match in one of the playground.
Madanda family
Madanda family hails from Yavakapadi in Madikeri taluk. There are 35 families within Madanda family with a population fo 250.
The total expenditure for hosting the tournament is Rs 70 lakh.
The hockey tournament is a festival for the Kodavas. It is a get-together for the Kodavas. The tournament has also entered Limca Book of Records. “The tournament is organised not only to encourage hockey but also to bring the Kodava families together.”
The Kodava hockey tournament was started by Pandanda Kuttanni in 1997.