MADIKERI: Floods and landslides have proved to be the great leveller. Plantation owners and workers are now alike, searching for jobs. Their bigger dilemma is whether to stay on in the district or move to cities in search of a better future.Several Kodava families are planning to move out of coffee country, after realizing that it will take them years together to rebuild their ancestral properties. The district, known for Kodava families and their heroics, is facing a strange crisis.Pudiyatanda Subasha Somaiah, 53, a resident of Hachinadu-Mukkodlu, is a local planter . He has around 25 acres of land. “For generations, we were staying in this village. My forefathers grew cardamom. But as the average annual rainfall decreased, we shifted to coffee. But now all my plantations are destroyed. The only option I have is to take up a job. I am ready to move to any place shown by the government to construct a new house,” he said.Somaiah, president of the Galibeedu panchayat, says this is the story of most of the families in this village. “Nature’s fury has brought all families to square one. We need to build our lives from zero,” he said.Manavattira Chinnappa, vice-president, Kodava Samaja, Madikeri, fears that the landslides and floods are an assault on Kodava culture. “Many Kodava families are planning to move to Bengaluru, as rebuilding takes a lot of time. The destroyed areas are the base of Kodava culture, so it is bound to have a long-term impact on society,” he explained.“Areas like Garvale, Kaluru and Mukkodlu are pockets where Kodava families are staying. These families used to lead society in Kodava cultural events and celebrations. If they move out of the district, it will have a big impact on Kodava society,” he said.Subhash Aiyyappa, a resident of Garvale, said the main issue will be the migration of Kodava families out of rural Kodagu. “These villages were home to the older generation, whose children live in cities. Now their parents also will move to the cities. The villages will become empty,” he said.According to sociologist GK Karanth, the Kodava community is very possessive about their land and cultural identity. “Even if they migrate to other areas, they will definitely preserve their culture. But it may be a painful change. Kodava families have a rich cultural heritage and they will definitely carry their unique identity with them wherever they move,” he said.The disaster which accounted for the death of 16 people, loss of thousands of acres of paddy fields and coffee plantations, is now throwing its shadow on the region’s festivals too.Kail Muhurtha, also called Kail Pold, a festival closely associated with agricultural activities of the Kodavas and scheduled for Sunday night and Monday, will be a low-key affair this year. This celebration is similar to Ayudha Puja (worship of arms) where agricultural equipment and arms are worshipped. All outdoor sporting activities, which are part of Kail Muhurtha, are also cancelled.According to residents and various organizations, no family is celebrating this festival this year. “Many of our elders say that in 1930, this festival was not celebrated following the arrest of several leaders for demanding a ban on liquor sale. Since then, festival celebrations have never stopped. But this year, most of the families are not celebrating the festival,” said Sonu Nanaiah, a resident of Somwarpet. “The festival includes sports, besides various pujas.”Writer Uliyada M Poovayya says the Kail Muhurtha festival is closely associated with Kodava culture. “Kodavas basically cultivate paddy. They used to start cultivation in the last week of May, and till August-end, were busy with agricultural activities. This festival is celebrated to mark the end of paddy cultivation. All agricultural equipment and arms are decorated and a puja is performed. After the puja, sweets and non-vegetarian dishes are served,” he explained.

Stay updated with all the Latest Mysore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.