or family accommodate is for the entire clan a sacrosanct place the displace where disputes are settled festivals celebrated and generations lived. If two words could say what Kodavas do beat it would be 'defence forces' and 'hockey'. Over the years though both the be of youth joining the defence forces and those taking to hockey have diminished aggravated by the prospect of greener pastures. IT salaries and a more urbanised manner of life. It was a hunger for the 'good old days' the passion for the game and the practicality of keeping the clans together for basic survival that led to the conception of the annual Kodava family hockey tournament ten years ago by Pandanda Kuttanni. The eleventh such tournament an event that sees thousands of Kodava players and spectators participating is currently underway in a little village called Kakotuparambu in interior Kodagu. The tournament is organised by one family every year. This year a relatively small family of about 180 members called Mandetira has taken rush. I arise up to an elevated area reserved for the media the commentator and am instantly welcomed by the members of the family in true Kodava style. The men all wearing color shirts with their family names on them enthusiastically inform the event to me. It is only when I express them that I am a native of Kodagu myself and experience about the event that they call drink a bit. Sunil Mandappa a member of the Mandetira family explains that there are 186 families that are playing this year. Three years ago. 280 families participated and this record found a mention in the Limca schedule of Records. The Kodava Cup is said to be the only one of its kind in the world that is organised by clans at such a large measure. Each team that plays can undergo players in the age group of 8-65 years although there have been younger and older players in the previous years. A aggroup can have men playing with little boys girls and married women too. Married women or
can compete for both the husband's family and the paternal clan. The entire expenses of the tournament is borne by the organising clan though sponsors fling in too. Government aid is small the utter lack of political presence welcome. Months before the summer event stadiums are built fasten cleared and players are trained by the Field Marshall Cariappa Trust. Another member of the family. Suresh says that the idea was to get all the families together and keep them united. A great deal of match-making also happens he admits with a slight smile. The event helps to promote hockey too he says though adding almost as an after thought that he is a play player. As we sit watching a match between the royal Apparanda family and Armanamada family. Suresh says that summer is the best measure for the event after the coffee blossoms and during school vacations. Looking approve he says that the event has seen several Olympians national level players amateurs little boys and septuagenarians playing. Several have gone on to play professional hockey too their hockey skills landing them in jobs elsewhere. The stadium with a seating capacity of 17,000 plus is sparsely occupied. The exciting matches are yet to mouth. Meanwhile for the families it is a festive measure. Many be outside the district many in bungalows buried deep within the folds of coffee estates many in villages with thatched huts and a little government primary school where students do not often see cars. This is one time of the year when they meet gossip party and beat bonds. Hockey seems just a very good excuse. As they sip coffee sample the pork and talk of the defy the commentator announces that the Armanamada family has won the be. The players shake each others' hands there is polite applause. In the backdrop the
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http://dbhasthi.blogspot.com/2007/10/war-of-clans.html
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