Mangalore: 'Aati' Games Capture Hearts in Madhya
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (MM/CN)
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Mangalore, Aug 10: During the month of 'aati', farmers of the region take a break from agricultural activities. By this time, they are done with planting rice saplings and the vegetable crop as the rains peak around this time of year. So, in order to give a fillip to their traditional sports, they indulge in various games of yore which keep them occupied besides helping develop comradeship.
However, the younger generation seems to have forgotten these traditional games due to the invasion of information technology and televison channels. In order to rekindle these games, the Jaycees Club International (JCI) of Surathkal, organized a rural sports meet at Pragatinagar, near Madhya, on Sunday, August 10.
Competitions like treasure hunt in the mud, tug-of-war, planting saplings, rolling beedies, singing 'paddhana' (Tulu folk songs), and 'chennemane' (local chess), were held. Villagers of Madya, Chelyar, Kodipadi, Soorinje, and Kuttettur, participated in these competitions witnessed by many.
Prabhakar Rao, director, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (MCF), inaugurated the competitions. Sriniketan, dean (academic) of NITK, Udaykumar Eragatti, head, department of electronics and electrical department, NITK, Leksmi Kumaran, DGM (corporate communications) of MRPL, Purushottam, planning officer, Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project, and Damodar Shetty, chairman, Suratkal SVSS Bank, were present on the occasion.
Journalist Paramanand Salian spoke about the 'aati meet' during the function.