Kodagu celebrates Hutthari

The festival of harvest symbolises bringing home new rice

After cutting the corn and offering pooja at Paadi Igguthappa Temple field, the corn was cut across the district. Huthari is new rice. It is the tradition of bringing new rice home. The festival is celebrated on new moon day which meets Rohini nakshatra. The festival features bringing home new rice, which carries a special place among the festivals in Kodagu. The preparation for the festival is being done one week in advance. On the day of Hutthari all the family members gather at Ain mane (ancestrol house).

In the evening, various rituals begin. In the house, below the thoogudeepa, the house members keep huthari chape, pot, bamboo basket and others and leave for paddy field. The house will be decorated with ashwatha, mango leaves. After the head of the family offers prayer, they leave for paddy field in a procession. After offering pooja to the corn, they fire in the air and start cutting the corn. By saying ‘Poli poli deva, polio baa’ they return to the Ain mane.

The corn will be tied in important places at the house. ‘Thambittu,’ ‘Elakki putt’ are the traditional delicacies for the day. Some even burst crackers.  Kolata practice will begin in ‘Mand’ at villages in the name of ‘Ead’ on Thursday. Later, village level Kolata competitions will be held.

As part of the festival, people visit houses and sing songs which is called ‘Mane paduvo.’ The raised money will be used for villagers meet called ‘Urorme.’