Napoklu: ‘Puthari,’ the harvest festival of Kodagu, will be celebrated on Rohini Nakshatra full moon night on Nov. 27 as per the date decided at the Paadi Igguthappa Temple in Kakkabe. The festival marks the first harvest of the paddy crop, which is a staple food for the people and communities of the district.

Puthari is celebrated in the Kodava month of Birchiyar, which falls in November and December. The festival’s timings and date were decided last Monday based on calendars and astrology by the representatives of 13 families and the office-bearers of the Temple. Ammangeri astrologer Shashikumar and Kaniyara Nanaiah led the rituals.

‘Nere kattuva’ ritual will be held at Paadi Igguthappa Temple at 7.20 pm on that day; reaping of new paddy crop (Kadiru) will take place at 8.20 pm; distribution of prasadam at 9.20 pm. A day before the Puthari festival, on Nov. 26, the Kalladcha Festival will be celebrated at the Paadi Igguthappa Temple.

After the celebrations at the Paadi Igguthappa Temple, people in the district will observe the ‘Nere kattuva’ ritual at 7.45 pm on that day; reaping of new paddy crop at 8.45 pm; distribution of prasadam at 9.45 pm.

Temple Thakka Mukhyastha Kalyatanda Muthappa, Nambudumada Subramani, Kundyolanda Ramesh Muddaiah, Mechanda Jaya Joyappa, Paradanda Vittala, Badakada Suresh, Kundyolanda Vishu Poovaiah, Parupathegara Paradanda Prince Thammaiah, Kaniyara Prakash and others                   were present.