Katyayani Baneshwar Aversa - Kaul pooja

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Sri Katyayani Baneshwar is one of the Kuladevata of the Kshatriya Komarpanths.

As per the Hindu Calender (Panchang), today is the Ashwin Shukla Poornima (Full Moon Day of Ashwija, also known as Kojagiri Poornima).

At the temple of Sri Katyayani Baneshwar in Aversa, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, after the mid day pooja, on this full moon day “MAHA SANTHARPANE” (mass feeding of Prasada Bhojan) is undertaken.

In the evening the silver Pallaki Utsav is celebrated.

Sri Devi seated in silver Palanquin is taken in procession to the platform at the base of Peepal tree near the Shrine of Sri Kalabhairava and pooja is offered to HER there.

Then in procession, Sri Devi is taken back to the temple, pooja offered there and prasada distributed.

On the next morning, i.e. the first day of Krishna Paksha (Ashwija Vadhya Pratipada day) at around Ten O’clock, the sarees and clothes offered to Sri Devi and Sree Baneshwara are auctioned in public.

Special pooja is performed that night, and “KAULA PRASAD” is distributed in an orderly manner in front of Sri Baneshwar Shrine.

To partake in the Blessings of the Kuladevata, Kulaavi people from Karwar, Ankola, Sirsi, Kumta, Goa, Mangalore, Udupi, Shimoga and Mumbai visit the temple on this day.

Jai Katyayani Baneshwar ! 🙏🙏

Also Visit - http://www.shreekatyayani.org/

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BandiHabba of Shirwad Karwar

#Bandihabba #Kalas
Pic shared by #SantoshKhiraNaik

In the month of May, in Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar and Bhatkal taluks in Uttara Kannada it is the season for "Bandi Habba," a folk festival.

Basically, it is a festival for farmers to evoke the blessings of village deities before sowing. It is also celebrated in honour of those killed in wars and "#mahasatis" who sacrificed their lives to uphold the village tradition. It is called "Bandi Habba" because in ancient days the deities were placed on a bandi (a cart with four wheels) and taken in a procession.

The presiding deity of the festival is the gram devata, Amma, also known as Shanta Durga, Bhoomitai and Kanchika Parameshwari. The festival is celebrated for eight to 12 days.

During the festival, a small water pot (`#kalasha') is kept on a stone platform in the temple. The `kalasha' is decorated with flowers and ornaments and the mask of the deity is placed at the centre of the platform. Every day during the festival, gunaga, the head priest, carries the `kalasha' on his head and goes in a procession. At night, the `kalasha' is placed on a platform called Adukatte and worshiped. Later, the `kalasha' is taken to "uyyale chappara," a swing. The gunaga conducts the traditional rituals there.

The festival brings people of different communities together. The festival can be a tourist attraction and provide opportunities to study the folk art, culture and tradition of the region.

Text Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/24/stories/2005052409090300.htm

Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Chaitra Bahulla Amavasya Kiru Rathotsava - Mahapooja

Letter by President Akhila Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj Karwar....

Dear All,

You will all agree that the Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj had a grand history of administering and ruling the territory to the extent from Gomantaka(Goa) to Honnavara, and from Sonda to Sringeri, which our ancestors have done since the time of our Guru Komaar, which is estimated to be more than 700 years.

In this region, each and every temple and Matha  was connected to our Samaj in one way or the other, and our Samaj was given the privilege and honour in many of these temples and Mathas.

We already know about our connection with Sringeri Peetha, and the revered Jagadguru of Sringeri. 

Some had a very rough idea, but many of our Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj were unaware of the exact connection of our Samaj with the Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Temple.

In regards to Gokarna, we feel happy to announce that we have been able to collect an important piece of information in the form of a document, which is a Bond registered and executed on 17th November 1935, in which it was decided by the then President and  other prominent elder members of the Akhila Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj, Karwar, with the Administrators of Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Temple, to have an annual Rathotsava Seva and Mahapooja, on the day of Chaitra Bahulla Amavasyaa, for the general well being of the Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj members. This aspect was forgotten since many years, and was not in practice.

We have brought this document/Bond to the kind attention of the present administrator of Gokarna Temple, being Sri Ramachandrapura Matha Peethadhipati Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Maha Swami, who has duly considered this Sankalpa made by the then elders of the Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj, and has gladly and graciously accepted the same, ordering the priests at Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Temple to conduct the Rathotsava  on the day of Chaitra Bahulla Amavasyaa, which falls on this 26th day of April 2017 (Wednesday).

We are all requested and expected by Swamiji to participate in this important event of Rathotsava and the evening MahaPooja at Gokarna, which is a privilege and honour granted to us by our elders, and the Administrators of Sri Gokarna Kshetra, and take part in the Anugraha, Aashirwada and Prasada of Sri Gokarna Mahabaleshwara.

Therefore, this is to request you as the President of the Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj of your region, to attend this event, on this 26th April 2017 (Wednesday) at 4-00PM at Kekkaru Matha, near Kotiteertha of Sri Kshetra Gokarna, alongwith all other members of the Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj.

Please Oblige.

Warm Regards,

Yours Sincerely,

Kshatriya Komarpanth Samaj

For Details Visit: http://www.kshatriyakomarpanth.com

Guru Pooja of Komarpanth Samaj - Sringeri 2017

The Annual #Guru Pooja by the #kshatriya_komarpant_samaj
@ #Sringeri on the occasion of #Bharat_poornima is a #Tradition being followed as set by the #community's original #Guru_Komaar a couple of centuries ago.

Since then on this day of the #Maagha Fullmoon the #komarpanths travel from their respective places to #Shringeri to seek the blessings of Sri #Sharadambe and his Holiness #Jagadguru #Shankaracharya.

The #GuruMane of #Aversa headed by #ShridharMetri has been coming to Sringeri since 20 years and this is the 21st year.

ಕೋಮಾರಪಂತ ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕು *ಭರತ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ*ಗೂ ತುಂಬಾ ಗಾಢ ವಾದ ಗುರುತ್ವಾಕರ್ಷಣೆ ಇದೆ. ಕಾರಣ, ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷವೂ ಸಮಾಜದ ಬಾಂಧವರು ಸೇರಿ ಗುರುದರ್ಶನ ಹಾಗೂ ಶಾರದಾಂಬೆಯ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಬಯಸಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯತ್ತ ಹೊರಟು ನಿಲ್ಲುವುದೇ ಅಂದು.

ಅಂಕೋಲಾ, ಅವರ್ಸಾ, ಕಾರವಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ಅನೇಕ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಸಮಾಜ ಬಾಂಧವರು ಒಂದಾಗಿ ಸೇರುವುದೇ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯ ತಪೋಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ.

ಈ ವರ್ಷವೂ ಸೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ ಕೊಡುವುದು ಹಿತೈಷಿಗಳಿಗೆ.

ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಗುರು ಸೇವಕರು, ನಮಗೇಕೆ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ಇದು ನಮ್ಮ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ಸುದಿನ.

ದಿನಾಂಕ 10-02-2017 ಅದೂ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಾರದಾಂಬೆಯ ಪದಕಮಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಒಂದು ದಿನವನ್ನು ಸೇವಗೆ ಮಿಸಲಿಟ್ಟಿ ಕೃತಾರ್ಥರಾಗೊಣ.

Ankola Komarpants' Suggi - Article from The Hindu

Suggi dancers express their gratitude

From the Hindu

This folk dance form is on the verge of extinction

“Suggi kunitha”, a local seasonal folk dance, has begun in the coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district. The troupes of the Suggi dancers move from one village to another during the paddy harvest season till the festival of “Holi” to perform the dance as a gratitude to the God for the successful harvest.

History

The Suggi dancers wear traditional dresses and headgears. The dance has historical background as it was used to create awareness among the masses against the British rule during the Independence movement.

Communities

In Uttara Kannada, the Suggi dances were performed by the Hallakki Vokkalu, Patgar, Namadhari, Komarpanth, and Ager who were mainly agriculturists. After 12 years, the Kshatriya Komarapantha community of Avarsa in Ankola taluk has taken up the Suggi dance and their first performance was at Harwada. Of the 45 Komarapanth families in Harwada, 29 families had participated in the Suggi.

Rest of the families accompanied the Suggi dancers in fancy dresses, beating the drums. With the younger generation not taking up agriculture anymore, the Suggi dance is on the verge of extinction. But the people of different communities had been encouraged to keep their folk art alive.

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It is performed in coastal districts during the harvest season

It was used to create awareness during the Independence movement 

Suggi of Ankola Komarpants

During the Week preceding the Holi Festival, the Komarpants of Aversa, Belekeri, Hattikeri, Bhavikeri, etc villages, take part in this Community Ritual of "Suggi". Suggi means "Harvest Festival". It is meant for appeasing the Gods for a better Crop on the next year, and also to show their gratitude for the Harvest that they have got in the present year.

Each Komarpant family spends money like Rs.2000-00 to Rs.6000-00 for each “Turaai” - decorative head-gear, depending on their spending capacity. This head-gear decoration is made by some Vokkaliga persons of their village, and is worn on an auspicious day before the Temple of the family deity/God.

One male member from each family of the Komarpants from this region has to participate in the Suggi Ritual. And each family whole-heartedly does participate. After wearing this headgear- Turaai, each person with one assistant/stand-by male member of the family, walk to all villages around Ankola taluk and perform the Ritualistic Suggi Dance before each Temple/God of that village and in the courtyard of the villagers. For the entire period, they stay away from their respective houses, cooking their own food outside and strictly adhering to traditional codes of conduct. 

Only after the Suggi period of one week or so, the men remove the Turaai before their Temples, and return to their homes, on the next day of the Holi Festival. This is a unique tradition even now being followed by the Komarpants of Aversa/Ankola taluk. It is believed that Honouring the Suggi Dancers is equivalent to honoring the Gods, for better Harvest and for keeping deadly diseases/epidemics at bay.

This tradition had recieved wide publicity in the local Newspapers, this year, as compared to the preceding years. It is the Duty of the each member of the Komarpant Community to encourage and preserve such Unique Traditions, that keep the community United as a Whole.

This year - 2010, about 135 people wore these beautiful Turaai's.