JOIN USMarked by fun and frolic, the peculiar ‘Beduhabba’ festival referred to as ‘Bod Namme’ locally, concluded in Chembebelluru village, on Tuesday.
People had decked themselves up with a variety of costumes and make-up to be part of the festival.
The festival which is celebrated in the month of April every year has a significance of its own.
According to the Kodava calendar, the festival took to start on April 14, with the people wearing the guise of gods and goddesses.
From the following day, the people deck themselves in varied costumes to raise alms from houses during the evening.
On Tuesday, they offered the money collected to Bhadrakali Temple to fulfil their vow.
Slaughtering of animals, cutting trees and shooting the coconuts are banned during the festival.
On the conclusion of the festival, the devotees who had fulfilled their vows collected fresh leaves and offered the same to the deity ‘Bhadrakali’, who is the village deity of Chembebelluru.
People from all walks of life taking part in the festival irrespective of their financial stature is the speciality of the festival.
The common disguises that were worn during the fest are: ‘Hulivesha’, ‘Pillubhoota’, ‘Bandkali’, ‘Rishi’, ‘Swamiji’ and ‘Budubudike’. Men would dress as women and dance. On the concluding day, all dance to the tunes of musical bands.
Native Kodavas from Virajpet Town and villages surrounding Chembebelluru who are working outside the district too came to their villages to take part in the festival.