Prerana September 2019

                                           

                 -Nagendra II Com

A number of regional festivals are celebrated in Kundapur Taluk. Bhootha Pooje (Spirit worship), Jakani (worship of souls of our forefathers), Hosthu( welcoming new crop), Hosthilu ajji and many other local festivals. Each festival has its own way of celebration which is unique to our region.
‘Swani Thinglu” or Shravana marks the beginning of the worship of threshold or Hosthilu of my house. On the first day of Swami month, my mother sows some seeds like green gram, horse gram in a mud pot  which has red soil mixed with turmeric powder. The pot is kept closed for 3 days. The seedlings which sprout after 3 days are called Kollu Hoo in local language. They are used to worship the threshold along with’Swani Kodi', a local pink plant which grows during this month.

 Early in the mornings of this month, my mother cleans the threshold, draws beautiful white lines using Shedi or white clay and decorates it with Kollu hoo, Swani kodi and Ratha pushpa. 
Hosthilu Ajji is the celebration of welcoming, offering varieties of food to appease and sending off our forefathers. It is celebrated on the 5th, 7th or 9th day of Swami month in the evening. We celebrate it with special decorations and a special pooja. Special food items like dosa, chicken curry and Undla Kai are prepared. Undla Kai is the item prepared specially for Ajji. It is made using white and boiled rice. The batter of these rices are fried using ghee or oil. These Undla Kais are used for keeping incense or Dhupa. My mother lays 6-7 plantain leaves in the hall facing outside and serves all the food items. This is “Ede iduvudu' or offering food to our forefathers to appease them. After this ritual we enjoy a feast with our relatives and friends. I wait for this feast on every day of Ajji.
 Thus, this local festival has unique celebration found only in our region and it also helps us to have merry time together.