Kodagu District - Kodagu Culture

Kodagu Culture

Coorg or Kodagu is chiefly populated by its native ethnic tribes Kodavas. Besides, other principal communities that reside in Kodagu District are Kodagu Gowda and Muslims while the minor tribes that dwell in Coorg include Airi, Meda, Male-Kudiya, Kembatti, Maringi, Kapal, Heggade, Kolla, Kavadi, Kurubas, Koleya, Koyava, Kanya, Kudiyas, Banna, Ganiga, Golla, Thatta, Yeravas, Malaya, etc. Chief languages spoken in Coorg are Kodava, Are Bhashe, Kannada, Tamil, English and Hindi. The natives of Coorg also known by the epithet Kshatriyas are ancestor worshippers and follow the martial tradition. Some of the tribes of Coorg find their origin in farm Laborers and Hunter Gatherer Foresters.

The citizens of Kodagu are polytheists and worship a number of deities, some of them being Bhagwathi, Mahadeva, Bhadrakali, Subramani, Ayyappa and Iggutappa. Various occupations adopted by the ethnic groups of Kodagu are: artisans, basket and mat-weavers, drummers, wandering musicians, farmers, toddy-makers, etc. Agriculture is the most important factor that upholds the economy of Kodagu and the main crops cultivated in this region are rice and coffee.

The Kodagu men wear ‘Kupyas’ (knee-length half-sleeved coats) over a full-sleeved white shirt. ‘Chale’ i.e. a maroon and gold sash is tied at the waist and an ornately carved silver dagger known as ‘Peechekath’ is tucked into it. ‘Odikathi’ is yet another knife that is tucked into the Chale at the back. Furthermore, a chain with a minuscule gun and a dagger hanging onto it give them a martial look. The saris worn by women folk are pleated at the back and the pallu fixed with a brooch is also wrapped in a very unique way. They wear either a full-sleeved or three-quarter sleeved blouse and cover their head with a scarf. A traditional gold beaded necklace known here as ‘Kokkethathi Jomale’ is widely worn by the women of Kodagu.