Madikeri: Traditional festival ‘Kail Poldu’ (means worshipping the weapons) equivalent to ‘Ayudha-Puja’ is being celebrated across Kodagu district this week. Kail means weapon and Poldu means Puja where agricultural implements and weapons used for hunting will be placed and prayers will be offered.

As a part of the festival, Kodavas clean the weapons and the agricultural implements. Kodavas use Tokupovu while offering prayers. Toku means Gun and Poovu means flower and the flowers found in deep forest gain prominence during Kail Poldu festival.

The traditional agricultural implements like plough will be put to rest and weapons lying idle come into action. It is said that Kodavas who were basically Kshathriyas used weapons such as sickles and swords for hunting. During the harvesting seasons they used to leave these weapons in the ‘Kannikombare’ (prayer rooms) of their respective houses. ‘Kail Poldu’ (also known as Kail mahurtha) provides an opportunity to bring their weapons out of the ‘Kannikombare’ to set out for hunting.

All implements will be washed along with oxen used in ploughing. Kumkum will be placed on the forehead of cattle and their bodies marked with sandalwood paste in some households.

After worshipping the weapons, delicacies of this festival such as ‘Kadambittu’, Vermicelli and ‘Pandikari’ (delicious coorgi pork dish) are served.

In rural regions, rural sports of shooting at the coconuts are held. All the villagers gather in an open ground (uru mandh) where shooting of coconuts takes place. Coconuts are tied to the branches of large trees and are shot from a distance and this sport is in practice for decades. Few other fun filled games are also held in the open ground on the occasion.

In recent times, though traditional glory is on the wane, yet a few elders in the community are trying to educate the modern youth to retain the culture. Once a field of lush paddy fields, Kodagu’s shift to other cash rich crops has dented the original fervor associated with the festival. Youth in search of jobs and flamboyant lifestyle migrated to cities resulting in the erosion of cultural values. The concretization of coffee estates to make way for resorts and influx of outsiders too has made the festival lose its sheen and efforts to retain the originality of the festival has not yielded desired results.

In places like Napoklu and Ballamavatti, the festival was celebrated on August 28, whereas in other places it will be celebrated on Sept 2 and 3.

The specialness of the festival is the very spirit of the Kodavas which has kept this tradition laid down by their ancestors still alive.