Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 30: With the onset of monsoon, agriculture-related activities gain momentum in coastal areas. In the past, lot of people could be seen getting themselves engaged in farming and allied activities. With the passage of time, dependence on machines has been widespread, and as such, people have been losing out on the fond experience of being close to soil.
On Sunday June 28, people of Kodavoor near here bathed in muck. On that day, Sumanasa Kodavoor, a local cultural organization, had organized a sports tournament in slushy field, titled Kesard Yer Birser (who excels in slush?) for the local people. There was enthusiastic participation in this event by the villagers.
The programme was inaugurated by pouring milk into the field. Milk was added, to denote the need to detoxify and re-invigorate our land which is becoming more and more polluted, and is absorbing more and more chemicals. Local city municipal corporator,Meenakshi Madhav, Suresh Suvarna, Bhaskar Bhat, Jeevan Kumar, Ganesh Salian, Vinay Karkera, Sadanand Sherigar, Annappa Shetty, Praveen B Kodavoor, and Prakash G Kodavoor joined in offering milk to the slushy field.
Various competitions had been organized in the muck, including race in slushy field,bullock carts race, reverse running, etc in which the contestants were fully covered in slush. Children who participated in competitions like running with load, reverse race, frog race, and 'Kare-Dada' thoroughly enjoyed them in spite of getting dirty at the end. 'Teppangayi', 'Beribend', Pyramid, and tug-of-war contests were keenly fought. Children enjoyed sports competitions like ball passing, skipping, swimming in slush, and such other games.
Students of schools and colleges, young men and women, and elders alike spent the entire day in the slush. Festive atmosphere was visible in the entire Kodavoor village on Sunday.
By handing over flower and fruit saplings to winners, the organizers made the people partners in an endeavour to conserve environment.
Sumanasa president, Praveen G Kodavoor, said that his organization has been organizing events like plays, Yakshagana, educational, and social programmes since the last 13 years. 'For the first time, this 'Kesard Yer Birser' programme was conceptualized to encourage people to find fusion with soil and get involved with environmental conservation. 'Our efforts would be rendered successful if the saplings we handed to the contestants grow into trees in course of time,' he added.
One of the active participants, Jaya Salian, Palekatte, appreciated the programme. He wished that more such programmes are held every year encourage more and more people to turn towards environmental conservation.