Women’s organizations observe Keddasa in honor of the earth

Women’s organizations observe Keddasa in honor of the earth

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 13: Taluk Women’s Federation and Tulu Sahitya Academy jointly organized a programme to celebrate Keddasa, an annual Tulu ritual to venerate mother earth, at Town Hall Mangalore on Feb 13, Saturday. 











District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar inaugurated the programme and said that the rich culture of Tulunadu will survive only if it is preserved and such rituals are practiced. He observed that Tulu religious practices include more of nature worship than deity worship. 

The members of the women’s associations performed the rituals associated with Keddasa. They worshipped the earth as a goddess. 

In Dakshina Kannada, farmers observe Keddasa to obtain the blessings of the earth. They believe that the earth goddess will grant crops in abundance. The farmers do not till their land on this day in order to provide rest to mother earth. 

K M Mohin, the retired teacher, spoke on Keddasa and the various rituals associated with it. Chandrahasa Rai, the registrar of the Tulu Academy; Vijayalakshmi B Shetty, the president of the women’s organization; and Bhaskar Pai, the litterateur, also participated in the programme.