Cultural Extravaganza: Kodava Music & Dance Forms

Published on: 02/12/2024

Photo title: Kodava Dancer

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Photo Credits: Evolve Back Resorts

When I heard the soulful voice of Sharada Somaiya singing “Lilale”, as the opening notes of the trailer for the first episode “Hidden Sounds”, I got bowled over and started digging deep into the music of the Kudiya tribe. The powerful voice accompanied by the ‘dudi’ drum made of wood and goat’s skin, echoes in rhythmic beats. One gets transported to the rolling hills and deep forests of Coorg, the home of the indigenous tribe.

A young Somaiya all of 10 years old, used to accompany her father and legendary musician, K K Jaya, to performances, thereby learning and imbibing the music of her tribe. She was bestowed ‘Karnataka Janapada Academy Award’ in 2015.

Known for living in deep harmony with nature, Kudiya tribe are renowned for cultivating local liquor known as 'Bolle Kall' and harvesting cardamom. Preserving the forest heritage has been their sacrosanct mission.
Somaiya tells, “Every song, including those sung for weddings, birth, and death, begin with the ‘Byne’ ie ‘Toddy Tree’ as it is the fulcrum of our lives.” She further explains, “I get lost in the rhythm of the songs which resonate the ups and downs of valleys.” While Somaiya represents Kudiya music, Sirigandha V Sreenivasa Murthy, one of the first archivers to document the Kudiyas in the 1980s, says that apart from a few recordings in government archives, little is known about this genre. The Kudiyas are known to embrace music in all forms as they are inherently fond of their performing arts. No wonder every evening, after the day's work, the tribe members gather to sing and dance.

Talking about the Kodava community, for centuries they have been living in Coorg largely as agriculturists cultivating paddy fields, maintaining cattle herds . Also known for carrying arms during war. Their lifestyle, intriguing culture and identity remains intact as they continue to retain their distinctive way of life ferociously. Every special occasion or the festival is celebrated the same way as it was in earlier times.

I was fortunate to have an immerse experience of local music and dance performance at Evolve Back Coorg Resort. Every dance form has a particular connotation and the community follows the traditional forms till date.

Let’s look at different forms of folk dance and folk songs of Kodavas:

Folk Dance
The Kodava community is well known to practice several forms of folk dances. Their style is 'Mandh' in traditional attire, with graceful movements in a large circle. Most of the time men carry weapons like like sticks for the Kolaat, Peeche Kathi, and Odi Kathi (the ceremonial dagger and sword) for the Kathiaat. Interestingly, most of their dances resemble martial arts practices.

Bolak-aat:
Dressed in all black holding an oil lamp, this is a popular dance form performed by Kodava men in the open field. The dancers hold yak fur ie chavari in one hand and the Kodava short sword ie ‘odi kathi’ in the other, representing their heroism and gallantry. The dance is performed on the rhythm played on Dudi, an hourglass-shaped drum, and they mark celebrations.

Ummathaat
It is the traditional dance form performed by Kodava women. Decked up in elegant red saris, traditional Kodava jewellery like kokkethaathi (a gold necklace with an ornate half-moon shaped pendant), jomaale (a double-stranded black thread chain with alternating gold beads), the women look pretty. A red vastra on their heads completes their ensemble. They dance in a circular motion with a swinging rhythm, with cymbals in their hands around a white sari-clad, a pot-bearing woman in the centre, who is supposed to represent the Goddess Kaveramma.

The most popular dance form is called the kodava-aat (Kodava dance) seen at Kodava weddings. There is no synchronisation to the kodava aat like the other dance forms. After completing the wedding rituals, they follow the tradition of Ganga Pooja, to the music played by a band.

Kodava folk dancers performing with sticks at night.

Photo title: Kodava Dancer

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Photo Credits: Evolve Back Resorts

Komb-aat
Kombaat has religious connotation as is performed in temples by the men of Kodava. It is performed with deer horns that signify the horns of the ‘krishna mruga’ -a spotted deer in Kodava legend with rhythmic tunes played on wind instruments and percussion.

Peeli-aat
This dance form is also performed by men in temples where the dancers hold peacock feathers while performing.

Kathi-aat
This is a special dance form performed by men dressed in traditional Kodava attire. What makes it special is a kind of sword fight where men hold the Peechekathi and Odikathi while they dance. This is usually performed during festivals.

Chowri - aat
This dance form is performed by men in the temple courtyards during festivals. Interestingly, the men hold whisks made of Chwari ie ‘Yak hair’ while dancing.

Kappe-aat
This dance form is performed by men during festivals.

Kol-att
This dance form is performed by men during the Puthari festival. Men wear traditional attire while performing this dance. Men hold the cane sticks and strike them as they dance to the beat of drums in a large circle around a milk oozing tree in the Mand (village Green).

Kodava Traditional Dress
Music and dance is not complete without their special costumes. Males wear a thick black ‘Kupya Chale’, a dagger ‘Peeche Kathi’ is always tucked in their dress, giving them a royal look. Likewise females wear colorful saris draped in a special way, with pleats tucked at the back.

So, next time when you visit Coorg, try to have a glimpse of the vivid culture and traditions of Coorg oldest community, as I did at Evolve Back Coorg Resort by joining in their evening traditional music. For me the travel is holistic if I explore the lush forests and abundant coffee fields, while participating in the region's top cultural festivals, which beautifully encapsulate the true spirit of Coorg.
Where else can you embrace the rich cultural heritage? Cultural festivals in Coorg are a reflection of its vibrant traditions and portray the lives of the Kodava people uniquely.

Sharmila Chand

Sharmila Chand is an Author, Columnist and senior journalist who writes on Travel, Food, Lifestyle, Culture, Holistic Wellness and a lot more. When she is not writing, she is busy with her students as The Guest Faculty in various Mass Communication Institutes.

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Cultural Extravaganza: Kodava Music & Dance Forms

Sharmila Chand