Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 23: Arasu Friends Association ® Jeppinamogaru celebrated the traditional day ‘Aatida… Aa… Dina’, generally observed during Ashada month of the Hindu calendar. The day’s events began by invoking God’s blessings and then a cultural programme by the children and members of Arasu Friends Association. Niveditha Shetty, social worker and entrepreneur, Dr Sai Geetha, professor, department of humanities, KSHEMA Medical College, Derlakatte and Dayanand G Kattalesaar Rajyotsava Award winner were the chief guests. President of Arasu Friends Association, Naveenchandra Rai presided over the programme.
Niveditha Shetty in her speech stressed on the significance of Aati month and the reason for the people of Tulunadu to observe this traditional day. "In these modern times we are moving along with technology by the use of mobiles or other gadgets, that people have no knowledge about the importance of special days or the special items that were prepared in olden days."
Dr Sai Geetha explained the various food items prepared during the Aati month and the reason for their preparation. She stressed on the medicinal values of eatables prepared during this month which maintain the quality of health of the people in society.
Dayanand G Kattalesar explained the importance of Aati especially for married women and why people developed these traditions in olden times. He also said that in those days, due to heavy rainfall in the month of Aati people could not get out their houses. As a result they were unable to earn their daily bread. As a result, they prepared these food items which were easily available in their surroundings. Quoting the example of Nagarapanchami he explained how and why a few Tulu cultural feasts were celebrated. He clarified some of the superstitious beliefs practiced by Tulu people without being aware of their values.
The association honoured Dayanand G Kattalesaar for his meritorious services to safeguard the Tulu culture and its traditions. They also honoured Baby Honey, a III Std student of St Agnes English Primary School, Bendore in the city for her thoughtful gesture of planting saplings with the help of her friends in Yekkur area with her
own pocket money.
The venue of the programme was decorated in a unique way depicting the culture of Tulunadu. The inauguration of the programme was done by unfurling the coconut flower bud kept in a rice filled wooden container called 'Kalasa'. Besides this, they also displayed the special food items of Aati month prepared by members of the
association.
The vice-president, Chandrahas Naik, secretary, Jayanth Shetty, treasurer, Santhosh, chief advisor, Ratan Shetty, lady vice-president, Divya Ratan Shetty were on the dais. Trisha Shetty and Tvisha Shetty invoked God's blessings with a beautiful prayer song. Poornima G Shetty compered the programme. Chandrakala G Nayak welcomed the gathering and Jayanth Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.
The programme ended with a sumptuous Aati special lunch of 30 varieties of food items prepared by members of Arasu Friends Association.