SSC
Puthari, the rice harvest festival, is celebrated by which community of Karnataka?
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Answer: Option D — Kodavas
Detailed Solution
Puthari (also spelt Puttari or Huthri) is the harvest festival of the Kodavas, the people of Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka. It is celebrated in November-December, on the full moon night of the Kodava month of Vrischika, and it celebrates the harvest of the new rice crop.
The word "Puthari" means "new rice" in the Kodava language ("puth" means new and "ari" means rice). The festival is a thanksgiving for the harvest. At an auspicious time fixed by astrologers, usually late in the evening, the head of the family leads the family members to the paddy fields, where the first sheaves of rice are ceremonially cut, while the people chant "Poli, poli, deva" ("Plenty, plenty, O God") and fire guns in the air. The sheaves are brought home and offered to the family deity and the ancestors, and a few stalks are tied to the doors, pillars and household items as a sign of prosperity. The first celebration is held at the Padi Igguthappa temple, dedicated to the chief deity of the Kodavas. The festival is followed by feasts, in which dishes made from the new rice are eaten, along with traditional Kodava dishes. People also perform traditional dances, such as the Kolata (stick dance) and the Peeli Aat (peacock dance), and sing folk songs.
The Kodavas are known for their martial traditions, distinct culture and language. They have a special right under Indian law to carry firearms without a licence, because of their traditional relationship with weapons. Coorg is also famous for coffee plantations and has produced famous army officers, such as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya.
The other main festivals of the Kodavas are Kailpodh, the festival of arms, in September, and Kaveri Sankramana, the worship of the river Kaveri at its source at Talakaveri, in October.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Tuluvas of coastal Karnataka are known for Kambala and Bhuta Kola.
- ✗Konkanis are a community of the Konkan coast.
- ✗Todas of the Nilgiris celebrate Modhweth.
Quick tip
Remember: Puthari = the Kodavas of Coorg (Kodagu), the new rice and the chant "Poli, poli, deva". Kailpodh = the worship of weapons.
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Festivals & Fairs of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Festivals & Fairs of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the religious, harvest, tribal and cultural festivals of India, the fairs (melas) held across the country, and the states, communities and seasons linked to them. It also includes festivals listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, such as Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja in Kolkata. Most questions ask which state celebrates a festival, which tribe it belongs to, or what event it marks. Harvest festivals are especially common: Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Onam (Kerala), Bihu (Assam), Lohri and Baisakhi (Punjab) and Nuakhai (Odisha). Fairs such as the Pushkar camel fair (Rajasthan) and the Sonepur cattle fair (Bihar) are also frequently tested. Revise festivals state by state. Practise the festivals and fairs questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.