Madikeri: The Ammathi Kodava Samaja in Kodagu district has taken a decision to ban serving liquor during Ganga Puja ceremony, held as part of Kodava weddings. And those breaking this rule will have to pay a fine of Rs. 25,000 to the Samaja.

This decision has been taken during the annual meeting of the Samaja held recently at Ammathi and according to the office-bearers of the Samaja, the decision was supported by a majority of the members.

At the end of a Kodava wedding feast, Ganga Puja ritual is held where the bride, as a                                                     symbol of taking her first steps into her husband’s family, has to carry a pail of water on her head accompanied by two unmarried girls from the groom’s family to the mantap.

As the bride carries the water, she is stopped by the groom’s family from entering the mantap or the kitchen to symbolise the hardships that she may face in a married life.

The bride in turn patiently waits with the pail of water on her head to depict her commitment and will to overcome any obstacles that she may face.

During this period of waiting, it is time for the youth of both the families to dance to the rhythmic beats of Valaga, traditional Kodava music, and drink and be merry.

The traditional Kodava dance during the ‘Ganga Puja’ is a two-hour ritual. However, the modern weddings extend it to over five hours.

“Serving of liquor is prohibited during the Ganga Puja until the bride completes the ritual of offering rice to Goddess Cauvery. We have banned people from serving liquor during Ganga Puja as it spoils the sanctity of the ritual. A fine of Rs. 25,000 will be levied on those who break this rule,” said Mookonda Bose Devaiah, President of Ammathi Kodava Samaja.

“We used to levy a fine of Rs. 5,000 when the ‘Ganga Puja’ exceeded the stipulated time. However, people used to pay this fine and continue with the dance. So, we have taken this decision with an interest to preserve the culture and tradition. Moreover, drinking spoils the significance of the rituals where Goddess Cauvery (Ganga) is worshipped in the form of water and at times, things get unruly as people tend to drink beyond limits,” he said.

Bose Devaiah said that the Federation of Kodava Samajas has commended the decision taken by the Ammathi Kodava Samaja and has appealed to all Kodava Samajas to take similar decisions.

He further said that the decision has been hailed by many people on social media platforms.