Kailpodh Nammera Padathi

About

Ages ago, it was believed that guns shouldn’t be used once you step to Naati Pani (Transplantation) until Kailpodh. But, one day before Kailpodh, guns were taken for Deva Bodi and Deva Bote.

Ritual

On that day, people used to gather and would go for a wild boar hunt. On the same day, they used to shoot domestic pigs in their villages. The thombe of shot animals were cooked and offered as meedhi on that night.

The priest of the village would give sandalwood paste and holy water to the people and would take his offerings like Rice, Coconut, Aracanut, Money, vegetables, etc., and return to his place.

Next day morning, men’s from the respective house would wash their wooden or iron plough, yoke, spade, etc., and place thok pooo and sandalwood paste (given by priest) on each one of them; Smoke is circulated all around with the help of Canarium Strictum Roxb which produces a sweet smelling smoke. In front of these, Banyan leaf with Berambutt is placed. The number of banyan leaf depends on the number of ox in the cowshed.

After giving bath to ox, castor oil with turmeric is applied on their body and sandalwood paste/ash/kumkum is applied on their forehead. After this procedure, oxen are fed with Berambut which was kept in front of yoke and then they are sent to kundh for grazing.

After performing above rituals, Kadambutt, Pandhi curry and coffee was consumed. Items like Gun, sickle, stick of Kaarana, Gejje thand, etc., were taken out and wiped neatly. Kerosene and coconut oil mix were spread on these items and were kept under the sun for them to heat nicely. Once they get heated, guns were loaded.

After sprinkling holy water inside Kanni Kombare, Nellakki Nadubade, Kayyale and Padasaale, mat is spread and lamp is lighted in the Nellakki placing sickle, stick of Kaarana, Gejje thand, etc.,These items were decorated with flowers and sandalwood paste. Olden days, these rituals were usually performed by the Pattedaras of particular okka. Feast prepared on that day was kept as Meedhi in the kanni kombare. After this, three Banyan leaves were placed on the mat in the Nellakki Nadubaade; on top of banyan leaves feast prepared on the day is placed with little alcohol in three glasses.

Now pattedara will speak few words telling, “Swamy, Nangada Yeth kadchiyakkuu, aal Baalaku, Bolekuu, Ponne Makkakku, illi ullantha bendakakuuu nalladh made endh Igguthappa, Kaveramme, Gurukarananuu thothavvaa”, and people gathered there would sprinkle rice for three times on the lamp and take blessings. After this everyone would take blessings from Pattedara. The alcohol which was kept for yede were consumed by Pattedara first, and later people gathered there will be served with drinks and feast. The 3 Yedes which was kept in the Nellakki, is taken one by one. One yede is kept inside Kanni Kombare, second one is consumed by pattedara first and distributed among gatherings, third yede is taken out and is fed for hunting dogs.

Pooja performed guns and sickles are taken and kept inside Kanni Kombare. Men going for mand after 3’O clock would were Kupya Chaale, Mande thuni and Peeche Kathi and assemble inside Kanni kombare. The okaa’s pattedara would give the guns to these men’s and they would take blessings from pattedara and other elders gathered there.

Mand will have a coconut and banana thombake tied to a tree and the person who shoots this coconut will be awarded. Rest of the people will shoot banana thombake and they were also awarded. After shooting these if the guns were still loaded, the tree (which was tied with coconut and thombake) was shot. After returning back from the mand the guns were placed inside kanni kombare.