Byc Halugunda: 2009

Famous Betegara temple {ಬೇಟೆಗಾರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ} in Halugunda, S.Kodagu

Famous Betegara temple {ಬೇಟೆಗಾರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ} in Halugunda

Famous Betegara temple {ಬೇಟೆಗಾರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ} is located in Halugunda, S.Kodagu, Karnataka, India. The Temple has regular visitors & ANNUAL FESTIVAL is celebrated on April 13th & 14th.

Center view of the Betegara Temple

Ammanooru Nele as it is called.

Choundi Nele

Main Temple where the Trishul and weapons are placed, One can also notice that the door is locked

Entrance for the Temple

The very Begining of the temple from Halugunda

The festive season bieng captured by Pandikanda.M. Aiyappa standing on the extreme riight. In the Centre thats the " Botegara There or KOLA". April 13th eveninig and night festival is celebrated & 14th early morn and by 3:30 Pm the festival is celebrated. All 7 families of the villages gettogether. The village people will ahve 7 days " Namme katt" as its called in Kodava language before the fest. Festival will have KOLAS, Coconut Shooting, Coconut fighting.

Old but not outdated Weapon in Kodagu/Coorg- "ಪೊಣ್ಣೆ ಬಿಲ್"/" Ponne Billu "

Old but not outdated Weapon in Kodagu/Coorg- "ಪೊಣ್ಣೆ ಬಿಲ್"/" Ponne Billu "

Weapon design is Simple

1. Dried Bamboo

2. Tread- "Bhoothale keru" - made from the plant called Bhoothale or buy a small rope from Shop

3. Therad Owen Strip

4. one small babboo stick

5. Mud rolled as round balls & dried in Sun or stones

Demo of using the Ponne Billu by Katrathanda Hemanth Ganapathi; need to turn the bamboo when you release the Thread

Old but not outdated Weapon in Kodagu/Coorg- "ಪೊಣ್ಣೆ ಬಿಲ್"/" Ponne Billu "

Kodagu Heggade Samaja (R) & Kodagu Heggade Youth Club website, Blog & Family Pals cluster

Kodagu Heggade Samaja (R) & Kodagu Heggade Youth Club Website, Blog & FamilyPalsCluster

Great initiative by Katrathanda C Santosh to kick start
'FamilyPalsCluster' a community in Orkut .
Then a Blog by Pandikanda Dilan Uthaiah
" http://bychalugunda.blogspot.com/"

Pokkalichanda Ganapathi Subbaiah has created a cool website for the
Kodagu Heggade Samaja {KHS} & KodaguHeggade Youth Club {KHYC}.
"http://www.familypalscluster.webs.com/fpc/home.html "

6th Year Of Pandikanda Kailpod Gettogether at Halugunda, S.Kodagu

Pandikanda Nanda, Daalu, Prabhu, Raju & Chimmanna who were the Ideals for the Younger generation arrived at sharp 10:00 Am

6 Pandikanda Senior Family members Firing tomark the 6th Year of Kailpod Celebration

Mr. Dinesh, 6 senior members, President Mr. Charmana, Mrs.Pandikanda Prema & Mr. Naveen

Lighting up of the Lamp by Mrs.Pandikanda Prema

Nagesh throwing the Shotput

"Back running Race" - A unique race where partiipants ran backwards without looking back.

Parents preparing the kids for "Frog jump"

"Blindfolded" - Good to watch the game

Women Aiming High - "Ball in the Buck"

" Shooting the Egg" - Air rifles used to Fire

1.5 Kms Runnibg for both men & women

The Youths had a tough 100mts event

Unique but entertaining "Sack Race"

The Girls running the 100 mtrs

Junior boys Sprinting to victory

"Fastest Bun Eaters" - the chance to east more & more

"Tug - a - War" - The Ladies team proved that they are definitely equal to men

"Tug - a - War" - Men's team performing

After Sports not forget Yummy Pandikari, kadambuttu & more & more &.....!!

Predency of Mr. Pandikanda M Madappa, retd HM & Padikanda Pattedara

The Pic of the Crowd gathered

Youngest Talet of the family who is representing Karnataka in basket ball & handball bieng Introduced to the family by Pandikanda nagesh.

The Youngest winner for the frog jump competition

P Nagesh Recieving the prixe for the Shotput by Pandikanda Pattedara Madappa

kids performing a Dance on the occasion

General body & celebration of kailpod at B'lore on 20th Sept 2009

Kodagu Heggade Samaja (R)

Function began with the arrival of the Chief guest's Mr. Pandikanda C Ganapathy
(Retd. SP), Special guest Mr.Powdanda Subbaiah. The Programme began with Lighting up of lamp by all the dignitories on the dias who were : Mr. Pandikanda C Ganapathy, Mr.Powdanda Subbaiah, President of KHS: Mr.Changachanda B Chamana, VP of KHS:Byrakundira A Chengappa , Hon. Sec: Mr.Kongepanda B Poonacha & Special Invitee: Mr.Chandrashekar

KHYC also made its presence felt after the points of educational & employment importance were highlighted by Thambanda Raghu & Pandikanda Dilan Uthaiah .

Ultimately the Importance & the ownership to take responsibilty were highlighted by the KHS

Cultural programmes included Singing & for children & women.

Programme concluded with a great lunch and ended at 4:00 pm.

Pariya Kali or Pare Kali a forgotten Sport in Kodagu

Pariya Kali or Pare Kali a forgotten traditional war game/ Sport in Kodagu

As told by my grandpa Mr.PANDIKANDA M MADAPPA. Retd Head Master ( born 1919) Pandikanda Okkathra Pattedara :

Pareya kali was traditional war game/sport which is forgotten in Kodagu by the the elders & also by Younger generation. A Sport which is usually plyed on the festive days like Kailpod & Puttari at the "Mand" or "Kol Mand" - a Place to get together normally a big banyan tree. Kupya, chale & Mandetuni is a must (Without pant) & two Canes ( "Thoora" in Kodava language ). The game with two canes ( Thoora); 1 to block and other to hit the other person but only the legs. The person who gets hit & runs is considered to be defeated by the other & this goes on until a Winner emerges in the "Mand" or that Village & he's a Hero until next festive season.

"Thoora" = Cane.

"Mand" or "Kol Mand" = Place of villagers gettogether

for festival; Normally Big Banian Tree, or a

Place which is concreated or stone laid so that

many can sit & enjoy.

"Kailpod" = kodagu festival ; Kail means weapon

or armory and Pold means festival. The day

signifies the completion of "nati" - meaning

the transplantation of the rice (paddy) crop.

"Puttari" = Puttari means “new rice” and is the rice

harvest festival (also called huttari in Kannada).

Kodagu Heggade Youth Club {KHYC}

Kodagu Heggade Youth Club {KHYC}

It all started with the Orkut Familypals Cluster Community started by Katrathanda Santosh on 1st july 2006 and here we are kick starting the Kodagu Heggade Youth Club in 2009.
“Informal and effortless way to start a Youth club” - as described by one of the founder member.

Get-together at Maurya Hotel with 58 members at around 10:30 Am on a Ganesha fest on the 23rd August 2009 was in fact an auspicious day and a great day to be remembered by the Youths of Kodagu Heggade Community.

The programme began at around 11:30 as many were late after the Ganesha pooja return with a tea.

At around 11:45 a formal beginning with loud shrilling applause for each other and was addressed by Achapanda Sathish, Kokera Anjali and Korkanda Chandru. Self introduction by everyone ensured that the youths know each other better to continue the programme. Korkanda Chandru briefed about the possible points what a youth club needs to be covering which included education, jobs, activity, matrimonial and so on.

Kongepanda Swetha, chosen as a special guest for the programme; addressed the gathering and shared few thoughts for the development of the youth.

To start the activity, the Youths were divided into 5 teams named asGrou Heggade Warrior Group, Heggade Bulls Group, Fire & Ice, Fabulous Four Group & Bluetooth and the fun activity began. The teams participated enthusiastically in the game called ‘Dumb Sheraz‘ and the team 1 emerged winner. One could see great actors with energy from the teams.Discussion on the Kodagu Heggade programme on the 20th September 09 for the General body and the life membership registration were briefed.

Tasty Food was served at 2:00pm with mouth watering Jamoon.

Pandikanda Dilan Uthaiah shared some info on the Heggade History - “Perugude” referred as Peggade and now Heggade and the benefit of 2A in the OBC category for Education and Job benefits. How the youths can be benefited with education and Employment by the well settled Youths.

After long discussion we had 3 different names for the association and the majority chose “Kodagu Heggade Youth Club” as the Youth Club name; cool name is’nt it? The Selection of name was coordinated by Katrathanda Hemanth and Korkanda Chandru.

Small round of Quiz was held and the questions mostly covered the Kodagu places, Nature, Food, plantation and Tradition – Quiz was conducted by Korkanda Divya & Charmanda Shruthy.

Accounts were settled before the programme could end which means transparency and also the youths decided to get together once in three months and a possible get together at a resort in November.

It was really a short time but everyone felt as though we had a more than a day and a hug before we could break up for the day was to be remembered.

~ 23rd September 2009, Maurya Hotel, Bangalore.

IRPU Falls - Nature at its best but Maitainance at its Worst

IRPU Falls a sad picnic for me and my Cousins - Nature at its best but Maitainance at its Worst ( 25th May 2009)

Long Distance shot of Irpu Falls with Tourists at the bottom..

Story about Irpu Falls:

The district of Coorg is famous for its natural beauty and tourist attractions. Within Coorg tourists can visit the Omkareshwrara temple, the Mandikeri fort and palace and the Nagarhole National park. The nature lovers can visit the natural falls like the Abbey Falls and the Irpu Falls during their trip to Coorg. The Irpu Falls is located on the high way to Nagarhole National park. The tributary of river Cauvery, the Lakshmana Tirtha River has its source in this falls. This fall is a major tourist attraction along with a pilgrim sight. The Shiva temple is located on the banks of the Lakshmana Tirtha River. According to a legend lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana passed along the Bhramagiri range. When lord Rama asked his brother to get some drinking water, Lakshmana shot an arrow at the Brahmagiri hills which started spurting water. This stream of water came to known as the Lakshmana Tirtha River. Due to this legend many pilgrims visit the Irpu Falls to wash off their sins.

The best time to visit the Irpu Falls is during monsoons. The whole region of the falls is covered with vegetation and this is a breath taking sight. Nature lovers come for trekking in the monsoon season. A nature trail run from the Irpu falls to the Brahmagiri peak. This trail is very famous amongst trekkers. You can reach the Irpu falls by the national highway. This fall is about 48 km from Virajpet, 260km from Bangalore and 120 km from Mysore. Tourists can make use of the highway from Gonikopal to Nagarhole off the Kutta road after Srimangala.

Tourists can stay at the forest department cottages in Nagarhole national park while visiting Irpu Falls. Other accommodation options are the Aranya Bhavan, Madikeri and plaza hotel Gold coin complex in Virajpet. The best time to visit the falls is during the monsoons and the festival of Mahashivratri. The region is bustling with tourists during these times. Hence on your tour to Coorg, do visit the Irpu Falls for a mesmerizing experience.

How to reach Irpu Falls: 80 kms from Madikeri, 30kms from Gonikoppa or 25 kms from Nagarahole once You enter Kodagu.

Trip to IRPU FALLS after the gettogether on the saturday night.

It was tough for my cousin and me to get evryobe ready by 11:00 am after the saturday hangover; some just drowsy and some just wanna be lazy at home.

Way to Irpu - cool view from inside the car!

Mountain range that seperates Karnataka (Coorg) and Kerala

One of the Coolest puch lines for any visitor and a great effort to touch anyone

Roots of the gaint trees found on the way to the falls

Kuvalle Elle as it is called in Kodava Language, known to be used for a kind of traditional sweet making and its kind of extinct, found on the way to the falls