Kakkada Eighteen: Kodagu's Sacred Season of the Soil

The rains of Kodagu are not just the beauty of nature; they are a way of life that is intertwined with the life, agriculture, food and culture of the people there. As the monsoon season begins, the hills of Kodagu, nestled in the lap of the Western Ghats, stand covered in green. Coffee plantations, paddy fields and forests are adorned with new vitality.

Rain is the basis of life for the people of Kodagu. Agricultural activities are intensified with rain. Farmers engage in their agricultural work despite the mud, cold and continuous rain. Kakkada Eighteen has a special place among the food habits devised by our elders to maintain health during this rainy season.

The month of Kakkada is very important. The rains are at their most intense during this time. The practice of consuming food that gives strength, warmth and immunity to the body has been practiced since ancient times. The knowledge of our ancestors who led a healthy life using the wealth of nature is the source of the Kakkada Hadinenthu celebration.

According to folk belief, the Madd (Aati) leaves that grow in the forest on the eighteenth day of the Kakkada month have special medicinal properties. It is believed that the leaves on this day contain eighteen types of medicinal powers, hence the name "Kakkada Hadinenthu" Aati Hadinenthu. Behind this belief lies the folk knowledge of living in harmony with nature.

In the morning, the family goes to the forest and collects the Madd leaves and brings them home. The leaves are cleaned, their juice is extracted and a fragrant potion is prepared by adding rice, jaggery, coconut, ghee, cardamom, cloves and other ingredients.

In the evening, this potion is offered as an offering to the gods and then the entire family sits together and eats it. This is not just eating food; It is a symbol of family unity, respect for elders and healthy living.

Kakkada Hadinentu is not limited to Aati Payasam. It is also a part of the practice of preparing and consuming various foods such as mushrooms, bamboo shoots, wild chicken, small fish found in streams, crabs and other foods available during the rainy season. This ritual conveys the knowledge of keeping the body healthy by eating seasonal food.

The relationship between nature and man has a special place in the soil culture of Kodagu.

The people here are characterized by a way of life that respects forests, hills, rivers, rain and agriculture. Kakkada Hadinentu is a symbol of this love for nature.

Despite today's modern lifestyle, Kakkada Hadinentu has retained its significance. Even in rural areas, people still collect and celebrate Aati Soppa as per tradition. This tradition is being continued in urban areas through the greens available in the market.

Kodava, Gowda Samaj and other organizations are introducing this heritage to the new generation by organizing Kakkada Food Festival, traditional cooking competitions and cultural programs.

Kakkada Hadinentu is not just a celebration. It is a rare cultural heritage that proclaims the life wisdom of our ancestors who lived in harmony with nature, awareness of health, the importance of agriculture and family ties.

Kakkada Hadinentu, which is intertwined with the rains, green forests, the glory of Kakkada greens and the richness of the soil of Kodagu, is still alive in the minds of people. It is the cultural responsibility of all of us to preserve this heritage and pass it on to the next generation. May the celebration of Kakkada Hadinentu bring good to all of you.

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