100 things to do in mumbai

100 things to do in mumbai

1. Get high on qawwali at Haji Ali

2. Spot a celebrity at Juhu PVR

3. Sit down on the steps of Asiatic Society library

4. Crane your neck to see the Bombay Stock Exchange building

5. Spot a leopard in IIT Bombay campus. If you can’t, then settle for an IITian girl

6. Enjoy a play in Prithvi Theatre

7. Enjoy the NCPA in a play or opera

8. Find some calm around the Banganga tank

9. Haggle for non-antiques in Chor Bazaar

10. Face the high tide on Worli seaface

11. Bet money on race horses at the Royal Western India Turf Club, Mahalaxmi

12. Dangle your feet, lean back on your palms and enjoy the sea from the Marine Drive promenade

13. Go for a heritage walk in the Naval Dockyard (first Sunday every month, Indian nationals only)

14. Explore the Sanjay Gandhi national park. A national park in city limits? Oh yeah!

15. Soak in the Victoria Terminus

16. Watch DDLJ at Maratha Mandir

17. Party at Hard Rock Cafe and mourn for a minute the death of mills around Parel

18. Jog on Juhu beach

19. Sit on a tetropod at Nariman Point in midnight till police constables shoo you away

20. Stand still on flyover bridger at Dadar station and watch the crowd whiz by you

21. Find out who is grittier. You or Crawford market?

22. Find the Fort wall

23. Ride the Victoria on Marine Drive. Yeah, cheesy, we know

24. Discover the city’s Jewish connection at Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue

25. Watch sunset over Aksa beach in Madh Island

26. Discover the underbelly of Bombay in Dharavi

27. Stay for a night at Taj Mahal Palace hotel. You definitely want to tick off this luxury address for the oh-I-stayed-the

re-for-a-while conversations, don’t you?

28. Catch the national madness of cricket in Oval Maidan

29. Read a Bombay book (Suketu Mehta’s Maximum City?) in Azaad Maidan

30. Cheer a football match at Cooperage ground

31. Bury your nose in books for hours at Strand

32. Stroll in Bombay University

33. Climb the airport wall in Kurla to gain phenomenal views of Boeings

34. Swoon at a concert in Bandra Kurla complex

35. Gaze at the Queen’s Necklace from the Hanging Gardens at dusk

36. Hunt for antique furniture (real or fake?) in Oshiwara

37. Hike up the Mazgaon Hill

38. Buy books from roadsides around Flora Fountain

39. Envy the private palaces of Malabar Hill

40. Party on a ferry in the Arabian Sea off Gateway of India

41. Take a break from the city. Vasai offers the ramparts of Bassein fort, ruins of Portugese churches and East Indian food

42. Trek in Sahayadris

43. Say hello to the fauna at Byculla zoo

44. Buy a camera from D N Road’s gray market

45. Dare the red light district of Kamatipura

46. Guess what RFID system they use to tag clothes at the Dhobi Ghat

47. Take a power nap at David Sassoon Library

48. Catch movies at art-deco cinemas: Regal (1933), Eros (1938), Metro (1938)

49. Bow your head before city’s famous deities: Mumbadevi, Mahalaxmi, Walkeshwar, Siddhivinayak, Iskcon

50. Dine where Shahrukh Khans and Ness Wadias dine: Olive, Indigo

51. Feel the sufi mysticism at dargahs of Haji Ali and Maqdoom Ali Mahimi

52. Shop at the Bandra boutiques or if they are too expensive, give Hill Road or Fashion Street a shot

53. Gape at famous residences: Shahrukh Khan’s Mannat, Amitabh Bachhan’s Jalsa

54. Discover theatre scene in the city at venues other than Prithvi and NCPA: Sophia Bhabha Hall, Breach Candy; St Andrews, Bandra W; Rangsharda Auditorium, Bandra W; Ravindra Natya Mandir Hall, Prabhadevi; Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane W; Shivaji Mandir; Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan, Chaupaati; Tejpal Hall, Grant Road

55. Explore the Powai and Vihar lakes

56. Visit the museums: Prince of Wales, Monetary, Modern Art, Mani Bhavan

57. Admire the British era architecture in Fort: Churchgate station, Western Railway headquarters, High Court, General Post Office, Telegraph Office, Police Headquarters

58. Learn about the rock-cut architecture: Elephanta, Kanheri, Mahakali and Karla caves

59. Explore the churches: Gloria Church, Byculla, Portugese; Mt Mary Church, Bandra W, Portugese, 1640; St Michaels Church, Mahim, 1565, rebuilt 1973; St Thomas Cathedral, Flora Fountain, 1718; Wodehouse Church, Colaba, 20th century; Afghan Church, Navy Nagar, Colaba, 1858; Our Lady of Salvation Church, Dadar W, Portugese, 19th century; St John Baptist, Seepz, 1579; St Peter’s Church, Bandra, 1852, rebuilt 1938; St Andrew’s Church, Bandra, Portugese, 1575

60. Check out an art exhibition: Jehangir Art Gallery, Fort; Tao Art Gallery, Worli; Piramal Art Gallery, Nariman Point

61. Buy fish at Sassoon Docks, Cuffe Parade or Dockyard Road, Mazgaon

62. Find the forts of Bombay: Bombay Castle, Fort; Castella de Aguada, Bandra; Madh Fort, Versova; Mahim Fort, Mahim; Sion Fort, Sion; Sewri Fort, Sewri; Worli Fort, Worli

63. Buy a vintage bollywood poster in Mini Market or Lamington Road

64. Getaway to the beaches around Bombay: Alibag, Kashid, Murud, Nagaon

65. Travel to places overnight: Goa, Ajanta Ellora, Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Khandala and Lonavala

66. Discover the charm of marble tabletops, bentwood chairs and irani chai at Parsi cafes

67. Catch behind the scenes action at a Bollywood studio

68. Loft the ball for a six in your neighborhood ‘galli’ cricket but make sure you don’t break any window panes

69. Silently stare at the Towers of Silence and Agiaries

70. Shadow the dabbawalas for one full day

71. Walk through a koliwada

72. Ride a vintage lift in a 100 year old building

73. Travel in a local train. How about the Virar Fast?

74. Ride a double decker bus. Isn’t Bombay the only city where they still run them?

75. If you have made it to a penthouse in Bombay, you might as well enjoy the view

76. Drink cutting chai, eat vada pav

77. Gorge on late night sandwiches in Juhu

78. Sip some wine at an expensive seaside restaurant: Vie Lounge, Juhu; Dome, Intercontinental, Marine Drive; Aurus, Juhu; Salt Water Grill, Girgaum Chaupaati; Bayview Bar, Nariman Point

79. Figure what all the fuss is about having a beer in Mondegar or Leopold

80. Jack you car bonnet using a cold-drink bottle and eat kebabs at Bade Miyan in Taj’s back alley

81. Savour a fine authentic meal of East Indian cuisine at Anant Ashram in Kotichawadi

82. Eat a Gujrati-Marwari thali at Friends Union Joshi club in Kalbadevi

83. Smoke a hookah at roof-top restaurant Koyla in the Arab quarters of Colaba

84. Eat South Indian fare in Matunga

85. Eat pav bhaji, pani puri, bhel puri, sev puri at Girgaum Chaupaati

86. Chew a paan outside Shoppers Stop, Bandra W

87. Indulge yourself with fruity flavors of Naturals ice cream. And if it’s summer, try a cup of alfonso mangoes with malai ice cream

88. Learn out the art of ordering tea in a streetside cafe. “Ek paani kum dena.”

89. Drink Kingfisher, Cobra or Zingaro in your neighborhood look-alike bar of Nightlovers

90. Try the green chilli ice cream at Bachelorrs

91. Swing to some live music as you enjoy your continental meal at Not Just Jazz By The Bay. Do pay attention to the witty hoarding outside as you leave the place

92. Run the Bombay Marathon (Jan)

93. Enjoy the Kala Ghoda arts festival (Feb)

94. Cheer ‘Mumbai Indians’ in an IPL cricket match at Wankhede statdium (May-Jun)

95. Get drenched to the bone while biking in the monsoons (Jul-Sep)

96. Sing “Govinda aala re aala” as 40 feet high human pyramids take the prized matka (Aug-Sep)

97. Get lost in the crowds of Ganesh Chaturthi (Sep)

98. Watch thousands of pink flamingos in the mangroves at Sewri (Nov-May)

99. Eat nihari, kebabs and sweetmeats around Masjid on the eve of Eid (Ramzan)

100. Run a ‘free hug’ campaign.

This is Bombay, meri jaan!

Extinct language of India:

Extinct language of India:

Aariya

Ahom

Andamanese languages

Aka-Bea

Aka-Bo

Aka-Cari

Aka-Jeru

Aka-Kede

Aka-Kol

Aka-Kora

Akar-Bale

Oko-Juwoi

Arwi

Cochin Portuguese creole

Lubanki

 

Dravidian languages Classification

🌸Dravidian languages Classification🌸

🌼Southern Group :

• Kannada Group : Holiya, Kannada, Sholiga, Urali

• Baduga Group : Badugu(Badaga)

• Kodagu Group : Kodava, Kurumba

• Malayalam Group : Aranadan,  Jeseri. Kadar, Malapandaram. Malaryan, Malavedan, Malayalam, Mullu Kurumba, Paliyan, Paniya, Ravula(Yerava/Adiyan)

• Tamil Group : Betta Kurumba, Eravallan, Irula, Kaikadi, Kanikkaran, Muthuvan, Tamil, Yerukala.

• Toda-Kota Group : Kota Toda

• Tulu Group : Bellari, Koraga, Tulu

• Tulu – Malayalam : Beary

• Unclassified : Kalanadi, Kumbaran, Kunduvadi, Kurichiya, Kurumba, Attapady,  Mala Malasar,  Malasar,  Muduga,  Pathiya,  Thachanadan,  Ullatan,  Wayanad Chetti.

🌼South-Central Group :   

• Gondi (Madiya Nagarchal)
• Kui
• Kuvi
• Konda
• Koya
• Manda
• Pengo
• Telugu

🌼Central Group

• Kolami
• Naiki
• Duruwa
• Ollari
• Kondekor

🌼North :

• Brahui
• Kurukh
• Sauria Paharia
• Kumarbhag Paharia

🌼Unclassified       

• Allar
• Bazigar
• Bharia
• Malankuravan
• Vishavan

🌴Indo Aryan Language Classification🌴

🌴Indo Aryan Language Classification🌴

🌺Dardic
☘️Kashmiri
☘️Shina

☘️Kishtwari,

☘️Poguli

 

🌺North Western
☘️Punjabi
☘️Seraiki
☘️Sindhi/Kutchi

☘️Potwari

☘️Hindko

 

🌺Northern
☘️Dogri
☘️Himachali
☘️Garhwali
☘️Kumauni
☘️Nepali

🌺Western
☘️Rajasthani(Malvi, Nimadi)
☘️Gujarati
☘️Bhili/Bhilodi
☘️Khandeshi

🌺Central
☘️ Haryanvi
☘️Braj Bhasha
☘️Awadhi
☘️Bundeli
☘️Bagheli
☘️Chhattisgarhi
☘️Hindi / Urdu

🌺Eastern
☘️Bhojpuri
☘️Magahi
☘️Maithili
☘️Odia
☘️Bengali
☘️Assamese

🌺Southern
☘️Konkani
☘️Marathi
☘️Sinhala

Vat Savitri Vrat

Vat Savitri  is one of the most significant fast observed by married women for the long life of their beloved husbands and the well-being of their family members. On this day, women worship Vat, the Banyan tree and treat it as symbolic of trimurtis- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. This day honours the dedication of Savitri who saved her husband from the clutches of Yamaraj.

Vat is the Sanskrit term for a Banyan tree while 'Savitri' was the woman who fought against death to bring her husband back to life and hence the festival is named as ‚ÄėVat Savitri‚Äô. Vat Savitri is celebrated on the Vaishak Vaidya Chaturdashi Amavasya (no moon night) every year, as per the Hindu Purnimanta calendar. 

The southern part of the country celebrates the same festival on Purnima (the full moon day) while in the north it is celebrated on the Amavasya (no moon day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Vaisakh.

Savitri, the daughter of King Asvapati, married Satyavan who was cursed to die a year after his marriage. As one year of his marriage completed, Satyavan felt weak and died in the lap of his wife. Savitri did not accept this and rebelled to the God of death, Yamaraj. She went behind Yamaraj and pleaded to him to not take her husband away. Impressed by the dedication of Savitri, Yama granted her three boons, but kept a condition in front of her "you'll not ask for the life of Satyavan". Then, Savitri wittily asked for 100 children of her and Satyavan. Surprised by her devotion Yamaraj granted her another boon and this time he didn't keep any conditions and therefore Savitri asked for the life of her husband. 

Preaching the commitment and love for her husband that Savitri entitled, married Hindu women celebrate the festival of 'Vat Savitri' every year.

Puja vidhi

- Before sunrise women take bath with Sesame (til) and gooseberry (amla) added in water.
- They wear new clothes, bangles, sindoor etc.
- Fasting women eat roots.
- Puja is done under Banyan tree. Where tree is not available, a stick of Banayan tree is dig in soil and where this is also not available, a portrait of Banyan tree is made on wood with turmeric and sandal wood paste.
- Some women place idols of Satyavan and Savitri, offer vermilion along with other things to them.
- Water, flowers, rice, gram seeds and special dishes made at home are offered to Banyan tree.
- Women do parikrama around the Banyan tree with chanting and winding yellow and red thread around it.
- They listen story of Satyavan and Savitri.
- Prasad is distributed.
- Women donate food, clothes etc to poor people.
Women celebrate this vrat with immense joy and dedication.

- Know your Indian Roots

Odia Dialect :

Odia Dialect :

1. Singhbhumi Odia: Spoken in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand

2. Baleswari Odia (Baleswaria): Spoken in Baleswar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

3. Kataki Odia (Katakia): Spoken in 

Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha.

4. Standard Odia (official register dialect): Spoken in Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts of Odisha.

5. Ganjami Odia (Ganjami): Spoken in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. 

6. Barampuria : A variation spoken in Berhmapur.

7. Sambalpuri Odia or Sambalpuria or Samalpuria: It is the westernmost dialect of Odia language spoken in Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Balangir, Subarnapur and Nuapada districts along with parts of Boudh, Anugul, Kendujhargarh and Nabarangapur districts of Odisha and in Raigarh, Mahasamund districts of Chhattisgarh state.

8. Desia Odia or Koraputia-Kalahandi Odia (Desiya): Spoken in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts of Odisha and in the hilly regions of Vishakhapatnam and, Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh. It also has significant speakers in Raipur , Bhilai and Bilaspur areas of Chhattisgarh.It has 80%–85% lexical similarity with Standard Odia.

9. Phulbani Odia: spoken in Kandhamal and in parts of Boudh district .

10. Sundargadi Odia  : A variation of Sambalpuri/Western Odia dialect Spoken in Sundargarh district of Odisha and in adjoining Simdega district of Jharkhand and certain pockets in Chhattisgarh.

11. Kalahandia Odia  : Variation of Odia spoken in undivided Kalahandi District and neighbouring districts of Chhattisgarh.

12. Debagadia Odia  : This is another variation of Sambalpuri/Western Odia dialect spoken in Debagarh District and neighbouring Rairakhol subdivision of Sambalpur district & Bonai subdivision of Sundargarh district. It's called Debagadia, Debgadia or Deogarhia.

13. Kurmi Northern Odisha and South west Bengal.

Sounti: Spoken in Northern Odisha and South west Bengal.

Bathudi: Spoken in Northern Odisha and South west Bengal.

Kondhan: A tribal dialect spoken in Western Odisha.

14. Laria: Spoken in bordering areas of Chatishgarh and Western Odisha.

15. Aghria: Spoken mostly by the indigenous people of Agharia caste in Sundargarh district.

16. Bhulia: Spoken by Bhulia or Weaver community of Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur & Kalahandi districts and its adjoining districts of Western Odisha.

17. Bodo Parja / Jharia: Tribal dialect of Odia spoken mostly in Koraput district of Southern Odisha .

18. Matia: Tribal dialect of Odia spoken in Southern Odisha.

19. Bhuyan: Tribal dialect of Odia spoken in Southern Odisha.

20. Relli dialect: Spoken in Southern Odisha and bordering areas of Andhra Pradesh.

Deepavali or Diwali message on different languages.

Know your Indian roots 

Deepawali Message in different languages...

We have compiled a list of 39 different languages in which you can wish your near and dear ones a very happy Deepawali. Enjoy the festivals of light and have fun wishing everyone in as  many languages as you can.

1. Telugu:

అందరికీ దీపావళి పండుగ శుభాకాంక్షలు .

andariki deepaavali panduga shubhaakankshalu

2. This is how you wish Diwali in Sanskrit:

शुभ दीपावली । सर्वे भवान्तु सुखिनः

Shubhah Deepavalihi.. Sarve bhavantu sukhinah!

3. This is how you wish Deepawali in Tamil:

எல்லோருக்கும் இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Ellarukum iniya Dheebavali nal valhthukkal. Deepavali naal vazhthagal.

4. This is how you wish Diwali in Malayalam:

എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും സന്തോഷവും ആഹ്ലാതവും നിറഞ്ഞ ദീപാവലി ആശംസകള്‍.

Ellavarkkum santhoshavum ahlathavum niranja Deepavali ashamsakal

5. This is how you wish Deepawali in Kannada:

"ಎಲ್ಲಾರಿಗೂ ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಷಯಗಳು".

Yellarigu deepavali habbada hardhika shubhashayagalu.

OR

"ಸರ್ವರಿಗೂ ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಶುಭಾಷಯಗಳು".

Sarvarigu Deepavali habbada Hruth-Poorvaka shubhashayagalu.

6. This is how you wish Diwali in Punjabi:

ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ।

tuhānu sabh nu dīvāli dīān lakkh lakkh vadhāīān.

7. This is how you wish Deepawali in Bhojpuri:

तोहरा के दिवाली के बधाई हो!

Tohra ke Diwali ke badhayi ho.

8. This is how you wish Diwali in Maithili:

आहाँ सबगोटे के मिथिलावासी के और सा दिवाली के हार्दिक शुभकामना

Aahan sabgote ke mithilawasi ke or sa Diwali ke hardik subhkamna.

9. This is how you wish Deepawali in Bangla:

Sakalkeyi Diwali pritio antarik subhecha. Asha kori, ei Dibas apnar jibone Anando niye ashe

10. This is how you wish Deepavali in Assamese:

দিপাৱলীৰ শুভেচ্ছা জনাইছোঁ আপোনালোকক। 

(Dipaolir xubhessa zonaisu apunalukok.)

11. This is how you wish Diwali in Urdu:

Deepavali ki dilli mubarakhbaad app sab khavateen o hazrat ko.

12. This is how you wish Deepavali in Kashmiri:

Tohi chuv Diwali hunz hath hath Mubarak. Diwali’ us pet tohi saarni mubarak. Lassun te Pahlun.

13. This is how you wish Diwali in Rajasthani:

Aap re or aap re ghar walo ne mari tharaf su diwali ki gani gani shubha kamnaye.

14. This is how you wish Deepawali in Sindhi:

Tawankhey , tawanje gharawaran and dostan khey dil sa dyari ju wadayu.

15. This is how you wish Deepavali in Gujarati:

દિવાળી તથા આવનારુ નવુ વષૅ આપને તથા આપના પરિવારને સુખમય, સમૃધ્ધિમય, આરોગ્યમય, યશસ્વી નિવડે તે જ પ્રભુને પ્રાર્થના સહ..

શુભ દિપાવલી .. નૂતન વર્ષાભિનંદન..

Diwali tatha aavnaru navu varsh apne tatha aapna parivar ne sukhmay , samruddhimay, aarogyamay , yashasvi nivde te j prabhu ne prarthna sah.. subh dipawali.. nutan varshabhinandan..

16. This is how you wish Diwali in Marathi:

तुम्हा सर्वाना सुखी अणि आनंददायी अश्या दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा

Tumha sarvana, sukhi ani aanandmayi asha ya Diwlicha hardik shubbhecha.

17. This is how you wish Deepawali in Bambaiyya Tapoori Style:

Apun ke taraf se sabko ekdum jhakas happy wala Diwali ki badhai.

18. This is how you wish Deepavali in Marwari:

थे लोंगा ने दिवाली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं.

Ram Ram sa Diwali ra jualda karu sa,aapne or aapre sagla pariwar ne diwali ra ramasama karu sa.

19. This is how you wish Diwali in Malvi:

Deepawali ki Ram Ram.

20. This is how you wish Deepawali in Konkani:

तुन्का सग्गाठंकयी दीपावली ची हार्दिक शुभेच्छा ।

Tumka saglanki dipabalichu hardik shubhachey.

21. This is how you wish Deepavali in Tulu:

Maatheregla Tudara parbodha eddepulu or matheregla tudara parbodha eddepudha madhipulu

ಮಾತೆರೆಗ್ಲ ತುಡರ ಪರ್ಬೊದ ಎಡ್ಡೆಪುಲು /ಮಾತೆರೆಗ್ಲ ತುಡರ ಪರ್ಬೊದ ಎಡ್ಡೆಪುದ ಮದಿಪುಲು

22. This is how you wish Diwali in Nepali:

शुभ दिपावली को पावन अवसरमा हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना

23. This is how you wish Deepawali in Oriya:

ଦୀପାବଳି ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ଆପଣ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ

dipabali upalakhe apana samastnku anek subhechha o hardika abhinandana

24. This is how you wish Deepavali in Dimasa:

Deepawali Ni Khirbkhe Aani Hamjauma Odehe Khasauma Rilahadu.

25. This is how you wish Diwali in Hadoti:

Tanne diwalli ki bhat bhot badhai mahri aur choon.

26. This is how you wish Deepawali in Balochi:

Washen Diwali Shomara Murad Bath.

27. This is how you wish Deepavali in Kathiyawadi:

Nava varsh na raam raam. jai shri krishna

28. This is how you wish Diwali in Shekhawati:

Thane Diwalli ki bhot bhot badhaiaan mahri aur soon.

29. This is how you wish Deepawali in Kodava:

Ninga eelariku santosha Deepavali.

30. This is how you wish Deepavali in Kutchi:

Aanke madi ke di Diwali ji lakh lakh vadhaiyu

31. This is how you wish Diwali in Sadri:

Raaur ke shubh Deepavali.

32. This is how you wish Deepawali in Saavji:

Tumne ani tumara samasta parivaar ne Deewali nu shubbheccha.

33. This is how you wish Deepavali in Romanian:

Deepawali fericite.

34. This is how you wish Diwali in Spanish:

Deseamos feliz Deepavali.

35. This is how you wish Deepawali in German:

Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Diwali

36. This is how you wish Deepavali in Arabic:

ديوالي سعيد جداً

diwali Ya saeed jidan

37. This is how you wish Diwali in French:

Vous souhaite un joyeux Deepavali

38. This is how you wish Deepawali in English:

Wishing you all in advance, a very happy and fun filled Diwali. Happy Deepawali.

39. How to wish Deepawali in Hindi?

आप सभी को खुशियों और उल्लास से भरी दिवाली की शुभ-कामनाएं !

Aap sabhi ko prasannata evam khushiyoon se paripoorn Diwali ki hardik shubhkaamnaayein!

If we missed out any language which you know about do let us know in comment, we will include them in list too.

 Diwali / Dipavali 

The First Day of Diwali

The first day of Diwali is Dhanvantari Trayodasi, when Lord Dhanvantari appeared, delivering Ayurvedic medicine for mankind. This day marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations. At sunset, devout Hindus bathe and offer oil lamps along with prasada (sanctified food) to Yamaraja, the Lord of Death, and pray for protection from untimely death.

The Second Day of Diwali

The second day of Diwali is Naraka Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura and liberated the 16,000 princesses the demon held captive.

The Third Day - Actual Diwali

This is the actual day of Diwali, commonly known as the Hindu New Year in Hindi speaking states. The faithful cleanse themselves and join with their families and priests to worship the goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu, to receive blessings of wealth, prosperity, triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. This is also the day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, having successfully rescued Sita and defeated the demon Ravana.

The Fourth Day of Diwali

On this day, Govardhana Puja is performed, a spiritual harvest festival. Thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna caused the people of Vrindavan to perform Govardhana Puja.

Bali Maharaja was defeated on this day by Lord Krishna's dwarf brahmana incarnation, Vamanadeva.

It is written in the Ramayana that when the bridge to Lanka was being built by the Vanara army, Hanuman (a divine loyal servant of Lord Rama possessing enormous strength) was bringing a mountain as material to help with the construction of the bridge. When a call was given that enough materials had already been obtained, Hanuman placed the mountain down before reaching the construction site. Due to lack of time, he did not return the mountain to its original place.

The deity presiding over this mountain spoke to Hanuman asking of his reason for leaving the mountain there. Hanuman replied that the mountain should remain there until the age of Dvapara when Lord Rama incarnates as Lord Krishna, who will shower His grace on the mountain, and will instruct that the mountain be worshiped not only in that age but but in ages to come. This deity whom Hanuman spoke to was Govardhana (an incarnation of Lord Krishna), who manifested Himself in the form of the mountain. To fulfill Hanuman's decree, Govardhan Puja was performed and the celebration is continued to this day.

The Fifth Day of Diwali

The fifth day of the Diwali is called Bhratri Dooj, dedicated to sisters. We have heard about Raksha Bandhan, brothers day. Well this is sisters day. Many moons ago in the Vedic era, Yamaraja, the Lord of Death, visited His sister Yamuna on this day. He gave Yamuna a boon that whoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins; they will achieve moksha, liberation. From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to inquire about their welfare, and many faithful bathe in the holy waters of the Yamuna River.

This day is also known as Bhai Fota among Bengalis, when the sister prays for her brother's safety, success and well being.

This day marks the end of the five days of Diwali celebrations.

The Origin of Diwali

According to the epic Ramayana, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Krishna as the noble king, from his 14-year exile after rescuing Sita and killing the demon Ravana. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and fireworks to celebrate the return of their king.

In rural areas of India, Diwali, which occurs at the end of a growing season, is a harvest festival. Harvests normally brought prosperity. After reaping their harvest, farmers celebrated with joy and gave thanks to God and the demigods for granting them a good crop.

At the time of the reign of Emperor Prithu, for example, there was a worldwide famine. He ordered that all cultivatable lands be ploughed. When the rains came, the land became very fertile and grains were planted. The harvest provided food not only to feed all of India, but for all civilization at the time. This harvest was close to Diwali time and was a good reason to celebrate Diwali with great joy and merriment by a wider community.

In the Adi Parva of the Mahabarata, the Pandavas also returned from their exile in the forest during Diwali time, giving people another reason for celebration.

Diwali Special....

❇Sanskrit:

शुभ दीपावली । सर्वे भवान्तु सुखिनः

Shubhah Deepavalihi.. Sarve bhavantu sukhinah

✴Telugu: 

Andariki Deepawali shubakankshalu

✳Tamil: 

Anaivarukum iniya Dheebavali nal valhthukkal.

Deepavali naal vazhthagal.

எல்லோருக்கும் இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

✴Malayalam:

 Ellavarkkum santhoshavum ahlathavum niranja Deepavali ashamsakal

എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും സന്തോഷവും ആഹ്ലാതവും നിറഞ്ഞ ദീപാവലി ആശംസകള്‍.

❇Tulu: 

Nikulu Materegla deepavali parbada shubhashya!

✴Kodava:

 Ninga eelariku santosha Deepavali.

❇Kannada: 

DeepavaLi habbada hardika shubhashayagaLu.

ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ನದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

ಮೋಜಿನದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಹಾರ್ಧಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

✴Konkani: 

तुन्का सग्गाठंकयी दीपावली ची हार्दिक शुभेच्छा ।

Twitter antu asile pura lokaku amgel kadechan Deepavali parbeche shubhashay.

✳Marathi:

तुम्हा सर्वाना सुखी अणि आनंददायी अश्या दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा Tumha sarvana, sukhi ani aanandmayi asha ya Diwlicha hardik shubbhecha.

❇Bambaiyya:

Apun ke taraf se sabko ekdum jhakas happy wala Diwali ki badhai.

❇Gujarati:  

Diwali ni hardik shubechao ne nutan varshabhinandan.

Diwali na divas par tamne ane tamara sahu pariwar jan ne diwali ni subhecha pathvu chu.

✴Kathiyawadi: 

Nava varsh na raam raam/ jai shri krishna

✳Kutchi: 

Aanke madi ke di Diwali ji lakh lakh vadhaiyu

✴Sindhi: 

Tawankhey , tawanje gharawaran and dostan khey dil sa dyari ju wadayu.

❇Balochi:

 Washen Diwali Shomara Murad Bath.

✴Malwa: 

Deepawali ki Ram Ram.

✳Marwari:

Ram Ram sa Diwali ra jualda karu sa,aapne or aapre sagla pariwar ne diwali ra ramasama karu sa.

थे लोंगा ने दिवाली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं.

✴Saavji: 

Tumne ani tumara samasta parivaar ne Deewali nu shubbheccha.

✳Rajasthani: 

Aap re or aap re ghar walo ne mari tharaf su diwali ki gani gani shubha kamnaye.

✴Shekhawati:

 Thane Diwalli ki bhot bhot badhaiaan mahri aur soon.

❇Hadoti:

 Tanne diwalli ki bhat bhot badhai mahri aur choon.

✴Sadri: 

Raaur ke shubh Deepavali.

❇Punjabi: 

त्वानूं सब नूं दिवाली दी लख लख बधाइयाँ।

Twahnu Diwali diyan lakh-2 badhaiyan!!

✴Kashmiri: 

Tohi chuv Diwali hunz hath hath Mubarak

Diwali’ us pet tohi saarni mubarak. Lassun te Pahlun.

✳Hindi: 

आप सभी को खुशियों और उल्लास से भरी दिवाली की शुभ-कामनाएं !

Aap Sab ko prasannata evam anand se paripoorn Diwali ki shubhkaamnaayein!

✴Urdu: 

Deepavali ki dilli mubarakhbaad app sab khavateen o hazrat ko.

✳Bhojpuri: 

Raurake Diwali ke badhayi ho.

✴Nepali: 

शुभ दिपावली को पावन अवसरमा हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना

❇Maithili: 

Aahan sabgote ke mithilawasi ke or sa Diwali ke hardik subhkamna.

✴Bangla: 

Sakalkeyi Diwali)priti o antarik subhecha. Asha kori, ei Dibas apnar jibone Anando niye ashe

✳Asomese: 

दीपावली’र हार्दिक शुभेच्छा जौनाइसु आपुना’र लौक

✴Dimasa: 

Deepawali Ni Khirbkhe Aani Hamjauma Odehe Khasauma Rilahadu.

❇Odia: 

Apana sabhinku subha abong anandamaya DIPAVALI ra hardhik subha kamala

✴Romanian: 

Deepawali fericite.

✳Spanish: 

Deseamos feliz Deepavali.

✴Arabic:  

  ديوالي سعيد جداً 

diwali Ya saeed jidan

❇French : 

Vous souhaite un joyeux Deepavali

✴German: 

Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Diwali

✳English: 

Wishing you all, a very happy and fun filled Diwali. Happy Deepawali

Importance of States in India

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Importance of States in India

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Punjab for Fighting,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Bengal for Writing... 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Kashmir for Beauty,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Andhra for Duty...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Karnataka for Silk,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Haryana for Milk...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Kerala for Brains,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Tamil for Grains...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Orissa for Temples,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Bihar for Minerals...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Gujarat for Peace,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Assam for Tea...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Rajastan for History,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Maharashtra for Victory...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Himachal for Cold,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Jharkand for Bold...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

UP for Rice,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Arunachal for Sunrise...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Goa for Wine,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Meghalaya for Rain...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

MP for Diamond,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Sikkim for Almond...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Mizoram for Glass,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Manipur for Dance...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Nagaland for Music,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Chattisghar for Physique...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Uttarkhand for Rivers,

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

Tripura for Singers...

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

INDIA...For all 

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

THE LAND OF CULTURE🌎

Must share, Proud to be Indian!

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

        🇮🇳🇮🇳

    🇮🇳         🇮🇳

🇮🇳                  🇮🇳

🇮🇳                  🇮🇳

    🇮🇳         🇮🇳

        🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳                  🇮🇳

 🇮🇳               🇮🇳

   🇮🇳           🇮🇳

     🇮🇳       🇮🇳

       🇮🇳   🇮🇳

           🇮🇳

 

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳                    🇮🇳

🇮🇳   🇮🇳                 🇮🇳

🇮🇳      🇮🇳              🇮🇳

🇮🇳         🇮🇳           🇮🇳

🇮🇳            🇮🇳        🇮🇳

🇮🇳                🇮🇳    🇮🇳

🇮🇳                    🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳                    🇮🇳

🇮🇳                         🇮🇳

🇮🇳                         🇮🇳

🇮🇳                         🇮🇳

🇮🇳                    🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

               🇮🇳

           🇮🇳   🇮🇳

       🇮🇳           🇮🇳

     🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

  🇮🇳                     🇮🇳

🇮🇳                        🇮🇳

KNOW YOUR UNIQUE VILLAGES IN INDIA:

*KNOW YOUR UNIQUE VILLAGES IN INDIA:* 

*01. SHANI SHINGNAPUR, Maharashtra.*

In the entire Village all Houses are without Doors. Even No Police Station. No Thefts.

*02. SHETPHAL, Maharashtra.*

Villagers have SNAKES in every family as their members. 

*03. HIWARE BAZAR, Maharashtra.*

Richest Village in India. 60 Millionaires. No one is poor and highest GDP.

*04. PUNSARI, Gujrat.* 

Most modern Village. All Houses with CCTV & WI-FI. All street lights are Solar Powered.

*05. JAMBUR, Gujarat.*

All villagers look like Africans but are Indians. Nicknamed as African Village. 

*06. KULDHARA, Rajasthan.* 

Haunted village. No one lives there. All Houses are abandoned. 

*07. KODINHI, Kerela.* 

Village of TWINS. More than 400 Twins. 

*08. MATTUR, Karnataka.*

Village with 100% SANSKRIT speaking people in their normal day to day conversation. 

*09. BARWAAN KALA, Bihar.* 

Village of Bachelors. No marriage since last 50 years.

*10. MAWLYNNONG, Meghalaya.*

Cleanest village of Asia. Also with an amazing Balancing huge Rock on a tiny rock.

*11. RONGDOI, Assam.* 

As per Villagers beliefs, Frogs are married to get RAINS. 

*12 .Korlai  village,  Raigad, Maharashtra.*

The only  village  speaking  Portuguese language .

Many of us dont know these unique things of these places ..so keep sharing.

LOHRI

Lohri is celebrated to denote the last of the coldest days of winter. Apart from Punjab, people from other northern Indian states of the Punjab region (Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh), Chandigarh and Jammu become busy making preparations for Lohri. The festival is observed as Lal Loi in the Sindhi community.

In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement. Punjabis usually have private Lohri celebrations, in their houses. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs.

Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. Punjabi songs are sung, and everybody rejoices. Sarson da saag and makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner. Lohri is a great occasion that holds great importance for farmers. However, people residing in urban areas also celebrate Lohri, as this festival provides the opportunity to interact with family and friends.

Kodavas of Kodagu

 

KODAVAS (COORGIS) OF KODAGU REGION

Kodagu (Coorg, as the British called it and as Kodava Naadh by Kodava people) the smallest district in Karnataka, is perched on the Western Ghats at a height of about 1000m above sea level. It is known for its breath-taking scenery – rugged hills, dense tropical forests once teeming with wild animals, lush coffee plantations on hill slopes, green rice fields in the valleys, winding streams and rivers, and cascading waterfalls. About a third of the district is covered by forests fed by monsoon rains that lash the region for nearly four months in the year. The river Kaveri (Cauvery), revered as their mother goddess by the people of Kodagu, takes birth in Kodagu.

 It is the Place with deep History of Kings and Rulers, the culture here completely different by other parts of the Karnataka State. There are total 22 ethnic Kodava speaking community along with Are bhasha Kannada speaking Gowdas and Yeravas.. The Swords and Guns are ritually worship by the Kodagu people; Coorg peoples are born fighters from time of Kings to nowadays.

Languages of Kodagu: 

Kodavas speak Kodava Takk Language, which is also called Coorgi, it belongs to Dravidian family and its spoken by 22 communities like Kodava / Kodava Kshatriyas, Ammakodava, Peggade / Heggade, Iyari, Koyava, Koleya, Hajama, Madivala, Golla kodava, Baaniya, Kaniya, Kodava Nair, Panika, Maliya, Banna, Kudiya, Medha, Kembatti, Maarangi, Boone pattama, Kaapala, Kodava Mappilla.

 Apart from Kodava, a dialect of Kannada called Are Bhashe is spoken by Are Gowda community and The Ravula community who are called Adyar in Malayalam and Yerava in Kannada speak Yerava language in Kodagu Region, other major languages spoken are Kannada,  Malayalam, Tulu, Beary and Tamil.

The language of the Kodavas – Kodava thakk (language) – has been established by linguists as an independent Dravidian language, with words and vowel sounds that are unique to it. Research indicates that Kodava thakk broke off from the Proto-South Dravidian group of languages about 3000 years ago. Over time it has borrowed words from the languages spoken in the neighbouring areas – Kannada, Tulu and Malayalam.

Kodava Culture:

Culture is defined as ‘a way of life of a people or community’, in this case the Kodava community, comprising the many aspects that together make that ‘way of life’ – their dress, language, social structure, ancestral homes, religious practices, customs, festivals, songs and dances. Those aspects of Kodava culture that are ‘unique’ and strikingly ‘different’ from that of the neighbouring cultures will be high-lighted, focusing on ‘what’ these unique aspects are, rather than on ‘why’ they came about. Changes that have occurred over time in some of these cultural aspects will be noted.

the Kodava community has retained its unique culture and maintained its identity and its distinctive way of life over many centuries. This is a culture that has survived despite the inevitable influences of the cultures of the neighbouring areas, despite being ruled by non-Kodavas until Independence (by the Lingayath kings and the British), despite the turbulent periods in its history, and despite the demands of modernity in today’s world. There have been inevitable changes, but these have not been significant enough to alter the culture substantially.

Dressing Style:

Women’s in Kodagu wear Saree which completely in different way compared to other linguistic groups and people.

The first thing that strikes one as ‘different’ about Kodavas is their traditional dress. The Kodava woman drapes her sari in a distinctive style with the pleats tucked at the back of the waist and the pallu (loose end of the sari) drawn under her left shoulder and secured over the right – a very convenient style, with the hands free for agricultural and other work. On her head she wears a vastra (long veil) tied back at the nape of her neck.

 The Kodava man’s attire is a kupya (long black or white wrap-around tunic) secured with a red gold-embroidered silk chele (sash), into the front of which is tucked a peeche kathi (dagger sheathed in an ornate scabbard of silver and gold, ivory and wood). A white mande thuni (turban) or a red chouka (checked scarf, much like the ones worn in the Middle East) is tied around his head. An odikathi (war knife with a broad blade) is fixed to a thodang (silver girdle) at the back of a bridegroom’s waist.

Kodava Deities:

The Kodavas worship a number of deities, Kaveramma is the main Goddess of Kodavas, besides the Goddess Kaveramma, they idolize Igguthappa, Muthappa, Bhagwathi, Mahadeva, Bhadrakali, Subramani swamy and Ayyappa.

 

 

 

Kodagu Festivals: 

The Culture in the the festivals like Puthari, Kailmahurtha and Kaveri Sankramana goes with rich tradition before the events starts. The culture is almost same both for Kodavas and Arebhase gowdas and celebrates festivals such as Puthari, Kailmahurtha, Kaveri Sankrama and Dasara.

 The three main Kodava festivals, Puthari, Kail Polud and Kaveri Sankramana are linked to the seasons and to rice cultivation. Puthari, the harvest festival, is the grandest of these. It is celebrated in November/December when the first sheaf of paddy is cut ceremoniously on a moonlit night and brought home with devotion and joy. We have heard that nowhere else in India is the auspicious cutting of the first sheaf of the harvest conducted at night.

 Kodava weddings:

Weddings are conducted by elders and not by priests. A striking feature of Kodava weddings is the way they honour the groom’s/bride’s family – with a baale birudu. A representative of the groom/bride accepts the honour and cuts the banana stumps specially erected for the purpose with an odikathi. It is said that this tradition symbolises a member of the warrior class defeating competing suitors to win his bride.

 The Hindu rituals of sapta padi and kanya daan are not followed in Kodava weddings. The most important legally binding ritual in a Kodava wedding is sammanda kodupa conducted by elders and witnessed by the assembled relatives and guests. That is when the traditional rights of the bride in her husband’s okka are enumerated. These rights include her right to return to her natal okka if there is a problem with the marriage.

 One of the unique ceremonies among Kodavas in the past was the Nari Mangala (lit., Tiger Wedding) – a ceremony to honour a man or woman who has killed a tiger. The person being honoured was dressed as a bridegroom or bride and blessed by all the assembled people, as in a wedding, while seated next to the slain tiger hung from a bamboo scaffolding. The Wild Life Protection Act of 1972 prohibits hunting and this ceremony is no longer held, except on the rare occasion when a tiger strays into a residential area and is killed in self-defence.

Kodava Traditions:

Kodava festivals and ceremonies are celebrated with much joy, singing of folk-songs and dancing to the beat of drums, and end with sumptuous feasts that include non-vegetarian dishes and liquor.

Many of the Kodava rituals related to death are unusual. Each okka has its own burial/cremation ground on its jamma land. Four men seated near the corpse sing the funeral song. Women accompany men to the cemetery. In contrast to the custom among Hindus, the wife lights her husband’s funeral pyre and vice versa.

Weapons play an important role in Kodava customs and rituals. The birth of a baby boy is announced by a single gun-shot fired in the air. (A gong is struck to announce the birth of a baby girl.) A tiny bow and arrow are placed in a baby boy’s hands when he is born – proclaiming the birth of a warrior. A bride uses her groom’s peeche kathi (dagger), and the mother of a new-born uses her husband’s peeche kathi to cut open a coconut during the Ganga puje ceremony. Weapons are worshipped as part of the Kail Polud festival.

 Kodagu cuisine:

Coorg People prepare many kind of special dished on festivals and special events, the dishes are Kadumbutt, Koogalet, Paputt, Pandi karri and ext.

 

 

Thanks and Regards,

Know Your Indian Roots