A Kodava Wedding

Abstract

The Kodavas have traditionally lived in the Kodagu precinct of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Their mode of dress, rituals, and physical appearance differ in many ways from that of many of their other neighbors in the south. Traditionally a community that subsisted on farming (rice and later coffee, among other crops), many of the ceremonies of the Kodavas revolve around the harvest calendar. Their wedding rituals, in particular, provide a fascinating look into the agricultural underpinnings of this unique group of people. This article documents the details of a two-day wedding ceremony held outside Madikeri, the capital of Kodagu, with a special emphasis on the culinary traditions on display.