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Over 300 families of Kodagu to bond in the revelry of the 23rd Kodava Hockey Festival

Over 300 families of Kodagu to bond in the revelry of the 23rd Kodava Hockey Festival
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By

Md Imtiaz

Published: 5 March 2020 7:52 AM GMT

Nestled in the lofty green mountains of Western Ghats in Karnataka, the mesmerisingly beautiful and quaint district of Kodagu is a paradise for nature lovers. The landscape bustling with coffee plantations and orange groves is an ideal retreat from the cacophony of city life. Erstwhile known as ‘Coorg’, under the British rule, the place earned the sobriquet as the ‘Scotland of India’. Not only its ethereal beauty, but Kodagu is known for the people and their rich culture. The Kodavas, belonging from a martial race, are the true representatives of Kodagu. While many associate this place as a tourist hotspot, most of us don’t know that this small hill station is also the cradle for hockey in India.

The rich hockey culture ingrained in Kodagu has culminated into producing an arsenal of players who have time and again represented India at global hockey tournaments and many of them had been a part of the world’s biggest sporting stage, the Olympics. From icons of yesteryears like M.P. Ganesh, M. M. Somaya A. B. Subbaiah, B. P. Govinda, and Arjun Halappa, to new-generation superstars like S. K. Uthappa, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Nithin Thimmaiah, V. R. Raghunath and S. V. Sunil, who have graced the hockey turf were reared in the lush green surroundings.

The rich hockey culture ingrained in Kodagu has culminated into producing an arsenal of players who have time and again represented India at global hockey tournaments The rich hockey culture ingrained in Kodagu has culminated into producing an arsenal of players who have time and again represented India at global hockey tournaments

In Kodagu, the sport runs in veins of the Kodavas and that is why they give a befitting tribute organising the Kodava Hockey Festival every year. Started in 1997, the Kodagu Hockey Festival has been a true revelry of the sport that has been an expression of passion. It is a celebration of the Kodava families who come together, irrespective of their age, gender and profession to simply devote time to their core value of sportsmanship. Like every year, Kodagu is set to host the 23rd edition of the Kodava Hockey Festival from 19 April to 17 May 2020.

The festival was a brainchild of Pandanda Kuttappa, an ex-first division hockey referee and an ex-employee of State Bank of India, who started the tournament with just 60 teams. The 22nd edition saw 334 teams of different families participating in the tournament. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world that has entered the Limca Book of Records.

The opening and closing ceremonies are held with pomp and splendour. Many locals set up food and merchandise stalls around the venue do brisk business because of the large crowds that gather to watch the matches.

The Mukkatira Hockey Cup The Mukkatira Hockey Cup

Each year, the tournament is organised by a different Kodava family (okka) and the name of the family is given as the name of the tournament. While the first one was organised by the Pandanda okka was known as Pandanda Cup, in 2018 the Kulletira okka organised the Kulletira Cup, where the Chendandas emerged as the champions. The tournament is organised under the aegis of Kodava Hockey academy. The organising family arranges the finances and infrastructure needed for the festival. The cost is recovered from the sponsors and donations. the family works on the new ground every year. Start from scratch, cleaning, rolling and to erect a gallery for around thirty thousand people.

The year 2000 saw the maximum women participation when 30 women took part in the Cheppudira Cup held at Ponnampet. The Palanganda team has won the festival the highest number of times (five) so far. They entered the finals eight times (between 2006-2016). In 2019, the organisers showed solidarity with the flood-affected people of Kodagu and it was decided to the tournament will be held in 2020.

This year the Mukkatira Okka, under the aegis of Kodava Hockey Academy and Coorg Hockey is all set to carry forward the tradition of Kodava Hockey Festival. The Mukkatira Cup will see Kodava families uniting, after coming together from different cities across India converging in Kodagu. Through this hockey festival, the Mukkatiras wish to raise awareness on their district and promote a clean and green Kodagu. Join the one-month revelry of hockey from 19 April to 17 May as families bond together, forgetting age and gender to exhibit their true sporting spirit.

For Brand Association, contact Navin Poonacha at [email protected] . You can also call him at 9845036990.

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