Coorg Festivals - Kailpodh

Early in the month of Leo (July—August), the hard labours of the ploughing, sowing and transplanting of rice are over, there is a lull in the monsoon, and now and then a most lovely day spreads its bright light and sunny warmth over the hills and valleys, forests and fields of Coorg.

(Update - This year, i.e. 2012, Kailpodh is on 3rd September.)

On the morning of Kailpodh, the whole armoury of the house is collected in the verandah, gun and spear, bow and arrow, sword and knife. Some of the young men sit down to varnish the familiar weapons. When this is done, they are carried to some room or to the centre hall, the nadu mane, and there placed in a corner. All now wait for the muhurta, the propitious time assigned by the astrologer. At the right moment incense is burned before the weapons, sandalwood paste is dotted upon them in profusion, and a show-offering of rice and other food (nivedya) is made to them as to idols. As soon as this ceremony is over, a mat is placed before the weapons, and the whole house sits down to lunch.

After the meal, the men take their arms and proceed to the Uru mandu or village-green to spend the afternoon in shooting at a mark, and in athletic exercises. When the evening sets in, the people disperse.

In earlier days, when hunting had not been banned, on the next morning of Kailpodh, the youths assembled for a hunt in the forest belonging to the village. Of whatever game was brought down, the man who had killed the animal received a hind-quarter and the head, the rest belonged to the group. This day was followed by a great hunt of the whole Nadu, a repetition of the village hunt on a larger scale. Kailpodh, to the taste of young Coorg, is the most glorious of all the festivals.

 

Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice