Bizarre festival of abuses celebrated in Kodagu

Hundreds of tribals, attired in weird clothes and holding skulls, sang vulgar songs and shouted abuses at fellow tribals at Devarapura village in Karnataka’s Kodagu district as part of a bizarre festival.

The festival called Kunde Habba, which in local language means “abusing god”, attracted hundreds of tribals to the Aiyappa Temple at Devarapura. An annual feature in the village the festival of abuses saw the tribals revel in the ritualistic shouting of abuses and singing of vulgar songs as part of the tradition that has been passed down to them from generations.

Men belonging to the Jenu Kuruba, Yerava and other tribes began pouring into Devarapura village from neighbouring Gonikoppa, Titimathi, Ponnampet and Polibetta early in the day on Thursday. They applied grease all over them, wore women’s clothes and torn gunny bags, held skulls and began dancing.

Apart from shouting abuses at fellow tribals, the revelers also beg for alms as part of the festival.

Legend has it that a deity called “Betegara Aiyappa” went out hunting with the tribals once. He came across a beautiful young lady by name Bhadrakali. On seeing her, Betegara Aiyappa left the tribals behind and eloped with her. The tribals, who were abandoned in the forests, believe that their own god cheated them.

To commemorate the event, they gather once a year and abuse the god for his act of treachery.

Another version around which the festival is fashioned is that it is payback time for the tribals, most of whom are labourers, to abuse their employers. Having been at the receiving end of the employers’ abuse for the whole year, the tribals wish to give vent to their pent up frustration against the employers.