Mysuru/Madikeri: The harvest festival of Kodavas ‘Huthari’ was celebrated on a grand scale at the premises of Cauvery Educational Institutions in Kuvempunagar here last evening and the function was organised by Mysuru  Kodava Samaja.

The festival rituals were performed under the guidance of Anjanda Kaverappa, a senior member of Kodava Samaja.

Prayers were offered to Lord Igguthappa followed by ‘Kadiru’ and ‘Nere Kattu.’ A prasada of ‘Thambittu and Kadiru’ was given to all guests. Later, folk dances like Bolthat, Ummathat, Kolat, Thalipat, Kathiyat and Pariyakali were performed. Cash prizes were presented to winners of various sports activities.

Sheaves of paddy (Kadiru) were brought in baskets and offered to Igguthappa chanting peans in praise of the Lord.

Kodava Samaja President B. Nanaiah, Vice-President K. Belliappa, Secretary M. Ponnappa, Treasurer M. Jeevan, Joint Secretary I. Jyoti and others were present on the occasion.

Members of Mysuru Kodagu Gowda Samaja too celebrated ‘Huthari’ yesterday.

At Madikeri: ‘Huthari’ was celebrated here with traditional gaiety. Kodavas dressed in traditional costumes performed folk dances with bursting of crackers.

‘Nere Kattu’ and ‘Kadiru’ were performed at Padi Igguthappa Temple and prasada was distributed to people. Deva Thakka Paradanda and family members were present on the occasion.

The festival was also celebrated at Omkareshwara Temple.

Kushalnagar: Codava National Council  (CNC), led by President N.U. Nachappa, celebrated ‘Huthari’ at a paddy field of N. Uthappa at Chikkabettageri village near Kushalnagar. The CNC members cut paddy sheaves and celebrated the festival.

‘Nere Kattu’ ritual was also performed after worshipping the Almighty. Leaves of mango, jackfruit and cashew trees were also used in the rituals.

The participants walked in a procession to paddy fields with playing of drums.

After firing rounds in air thrice, the paddy sheaves were cut and brought home in a procession.

Traditional folk dances were performed and prasada was distributed to all.

Huthari for wild elephants!

Gonikoppa: Wild elephants were said to have eaten the ‘Kadiru’ (paddy sheaves) at a field at Kurchi village near here well before the authorities of Irpu Rameshwara Temple, Priests and villagers went there in the morning yesterday to cut and bring the sheaves to the temple for rituals.

A big surprise was in store for all of them as the elephants had cleared the field leaving it totally bare. With no way to go, the people were content by chopping off grass with a few leftover paddy sheaves to perform the festival rituals.