Coorg - Cofee Plantations in Western Ghats, Karnataka

Fairs & Festivals Coorg

Kali Podu in September, Huthri in November/December and Madikeri Dassera.

It is the Kodavas’ strong sense of clan that draws scattered families together at festival and weddings. Kodavas practice the crosscousin marriage system and their wedding are celebrated with pomp and feasting, usually during the marriage season from March to June. The bridegroom wears a white kuppia and a red and gold headcloth draped over his white turban. All the menfolk wear red and gold sashes with ornamented daggers or swords tucked into the folds of the sash, over the traditional black kuppia. There are no priests and the marriage is solemnized before the traditional lamp, in the presence of elders who shower the couple with rice confetti.

The festival season starts with Keil Poldu day in September, when the martial race that produced two great Indian soldiersCariyappa and Thimmaiahworship their weapons. On Cauvery Sankramana day in October, thousands gather at TalaCauvery temple on Brahmagiri Hill to witness the rise of the fountainhead of the River Cauvery. At a precise moment predicted by astrologers, water gushes out of the little well fruit around the spring. On a fullmoon night in November or December the exuberant Kodavas gather to celebrate the Huttari festival or the harvesting of the paddy crop. The head of the family cuts the first sheaf of paddy to the accompaniment of much music and dancing. The mistress of the house lays it reverently before the lamp that burns constantly in their home.

Karavali Festival

Held in February every year, in nearby Mangalore, this festival organized by the Government of Karnataka observes vibrant rituals like the Bhuta (Demon Worship), Nagamandala and Demon Dance. Navrathri festival This tenday festival is celebrated in nearby Chikmagalur on the occasion of Durga Puja.

Where to stay

Planning your next Trip to Coorg? Want to do something interesting? Why not plan to attend a Coorgi wedding. Coorgi wedding are probably rivaled in gaiety and pomp only by Punjabi weddings. Witnessing a Coorgi wedding replete with symbolic rituals of dancing and mock martial practices is quite a spectacle. Coorgi weddings usually take place only between March and June in traditional wedding halls called Kalyana Mantaps. Traditional Coorg Wedding Meal is a treat that you are guaranteed to remember for a lifetime, especially if you fancy non vegetarian cuisine. The Coorg wedding is perhaps the only Hindu wedding where alcohol and meat are served. No wedding in Coorg is complete without Kadambutt/Pandi Kari, Noolputte/Koli Kari to name a few. On your next trip to Coorg, make sure you have a Kodava wedding on your itinerary.

Schedule your visit to coincie with one of the colorful festivals of the region. The festivals of the Kodava community are largely around agriculture military activities The 'Festival of Arms Keilpoldu' is held in the months of June to September. During this festival the weapons are polished and worshipped before resuse.

Cauvery Shankaramana is based around the river Cauver is held in October.

The harvest festival 'Puthar' is celebrated in November or December. The festival is accompanied by folks songs and dances, performed by the different villagers at their temples.