The community march in Kodagu, which got underway on Sunday, and was launched to preserve the culture and identity of the locals, has evoked a strong response from the public.
Akhila Kodava Samaja, Federation of Kodava Samajas, Kodava Sahitya Academy, and others jointly organised the march that began from Kutta, proceeded to Srimangala, and concluded at T. Shettigeri.
On Monday, the march covered a distance of 7 km from T. Shettigeri to Hudikeri and ended at Ponnampet. The march will continue till February 7 and end at Madikeri, and the participants will have covered 82 km in all, highlighting the imperatives of safeguarding Kodava culture and their identity.
Thousands of people from across Kodagu including senior citizens and those from areas that are not along the route map have joined the march and expressed their solidarity with the cause.
The participants have also used the march to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Kodagu by way of dressing in traditional attire and displaying folk songs and music along the route. The local community in Kodagu has been raising the issue of cultural marginalisation and the decline in their representation in the political sphere.
But the triggering point was the Kattemad Maha Mrtutyunjaya temple issue when the locals clad in traditional attire were denied entry by the management because it violated the dress code. This was perceived to be an affront to the Kodava culture and identity and various Kodava Samajas and Sanghas took objection to such a move and organised to safeguard their culture and tradition through a peace march.
Published – February 03, 2025 08:54 pm IST