Mysore/Mysuru: Dodda Matti Puja (Amba Puja), is a significant ritual performed at Garadi Manes (traditional wrestling houses), every year ahead of Nada Habba Mysuru Dasara in and around the district. The ritual involves the worship of red soil (matti) which is spread on the wrestling arena, signalling the beginning of preparations for Dasara wrestling tournament, which still remains a major attraction among the wrestling buffs.

The matti, a special red soil, is considered as sacred and is brought to the Garadi Mane once a year, on Varamahalakshmi festival day, in a procession. The soil is spread on the wrestling arena (akhada) and decorated with flowers and worshipped, before concluding the puja with a Mahamangalarati, invoking the blessings of the Goddess for the wrestlers.

Matti Puja is a way to ready the wrestling arena and inspire the wrestlers for the prestigious Dasara bouts, where wrestlers from different Garadi Manes showcase their skills on slugging it out.

The preparation was set in motion with Dodda Matti Puja at Hosabeedi Hathu Janagala Garadi of Srirama Seva Trust located on second cross in K.G. Koppal, Pailwan Basavaiah’s Hathu Janagala Garadi, Pailwan Basavaiah’s Chikkagaradi (Jayanagar), Ustad Lingegowda’s Hathu Janagala Garadi, Pailwan Hucchaiah’s Garadi, Pailwan Boraiah-Basavaiah’s Hathu Janagala Garadi (Motte Garadi) and Namma Garadi.