Sandooka The Living Museum of Kodava Culture

02/09/2026

Kailpodh greetings from our family at Sandooka to yours.

A day to honour our ancestors, worship our weapons and tools, and give thanks for nature’s bounty that sustains us.

May we continue to Honour Our Roots, Preserve Our Legacy, and share It With Pride!


www.sandookamuseum.org

23/08/2026

A Blessing for Coorg 🌿

This post is important because the debate around the Kasturirangan Report is too often clouded by fear and misinformation. At its heart is a simple but urgent question: how do we protect the extraordinary natural heritage of Coorg while safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the people who have nurtured this land for generations?

The poster seeks to explain that ecological protection need not mean an end to coffee plantations, agriculture, homes or traditional ways of life. Rather, it asks us to understand what is actually proposed, separate fact from rumour, and recognise why protecting Coorg’s forests, water, biodiversity and fragile landscape is essential to its future.

Coorg is not merely real estate. It is a living heritage. Once its forests and landscapes are destroyed, no amount of development can bring them back.

Our sincere thanks to Mr. K. M. Rajappa, Nectarfresh, Mysuru, whose detailed and thoughtful post inspired this poster and helped bring clarity to an issue that concerns every person who loves Coorg.

May it encourage informed discussion, responsible development and, above all, a collective determination to protect this extraordinary land for generations yet to come.

Save Coorg. Save our heritage. 🌿

05/08/2026

Madh Thopu and Kakkada Trivia!

03/08/2026

28/07/2026

Nadikerianda Nala Ponappa, the well known cartoonist drew this Kodava Peechekatthi at dinner one night at Rathi’s home in Bittangala! We thought it was the perfect image for a logo for Sandooka! It was adapted and has become a recognisable visual identity for our website!
Thank you Nala!

27/07/2026

To all our Kodava Community, come join Sandooka to support this unique virtual museum!

25/03/2024

Image: Cooked Pandi curry, ready to be served. Photo courtesy of Shalini Nanda Nagappa.

Probably the definitive dish when it comes to Kodava cuisine is pandi curry. The delectable preparation is one of the tastiest ways to prepare pork, or wild boar – as it was, in another era. As with most celebrated recipes, the pandi curry also has many versions, a mean and spicy one, and a mellower version, for those who can’t brave the heat.

Have you ever tried it or cooked it? If not, try it by following not one, but two recipes of this pork delicacy from celebrated food blogger Shalini Nanda Nagappa, who has roots in the community and region, and is now based in Canada.

To find the recipe, head to www.sandookamuseum.org to read the story “Where is the Pandi Curry?” under the category of Cuisine’.

18/03/2024

Image: The Shantheyanda cup players in action, 2016. Photo courtesy of Niran Shantheyanda

There is a great history of sport among the Kodavas. According to the Indian Limca Book of Records, the Kodava hockey festival is both the largest and the longest hockey tournament in India. This is probably the world’s biggest organised family tournament as well.

These annual hockey events are not called tournaments; they are called namme, which is the Kodava word for a festival. The Kodava hockey namme is the brainchild of Pandanda Kuttani Kuttappa and his brother Kashi Ponnappa.

Every summer, during April and May, the hockey namme brings together Kodava families who live locally, as well as far and wide. Every year, one selected Kodava okka or clan conducts the tournament and the trophy is named after them. This event takes place in a centrally located hockey ground in a town nearest to the residence of the okka that is organising it that year. A unique feature of this tournament is that there is no age-bar or gender discrimination amongst the players.

Do you have family members who have played in the hockey namme, or have you been part of one? We will be thrilled to know your story, see old photographs if you have. Please share with us or tag us - – on social media!

To know more about the various aspects of community histories of Kodavas, head to www.sandookamuseum.org to read the stories under the category ‘Community Histories’

11/03/2024

Image: Sisters from Kelapanda family, Tittu on harmonium (left), Polly with the violin (right). Photo circa 1930. Object courtesy of Rathi Vinay Jha.

Have you ever seen the distinct attire worn at a Kodava celebration or wedding? In the past, this was the day-to-day wear of the community.

In this image, taken in the 1930s, most likely in a photo-studio, we see two sisters from the Kelapanda family - Tittu and Polly- wearing sari in a distinct manner. It is wrapped around the lower body, then taken under the arms around the chest, and the end is brought over from behind and pinned at the shoulder with a brooch. The pleats of the Kodava sari are at the back, unlike how it is worn in the rest of India. The Kodava sari draping style, called the Kodavathi podiya, was traditionally accompanied by a close collar long-sleeved blouse.

These traditional costumes are distinctive, shaped to suit the terrain, the cultural ethos, and the agrarian and martial history of the community. Set in rolling mountains and valleys, the climate in Kodagu was cold. Perhaps this dictated that the Kodavas wore daily costumes that covered them adequately. But in modern times, these costumes have become festive and ceremonial wear.

Do you have such photographs that showcase traditional attire of the Kodavas? If yes, do share with us or tag us - – on social media!

To know more about the various aspects of traditional clothing and jewellery of Kodavas, head to www.sandookamuseum.org to read the stories under the category 'Clothes and Jewellery'

01/03/2024

Image: Details of wall mural of the King and his retinue at Naalnaad Palace. Photo courtesy of Clare Arni.

During the reign of the Haleri Rajas in Coorg, painting was one form of art that was patronised. The kings commissioned paintings to beautify the palace walls and also to honour officers. Fine examples of Haleri paintings are found in the Naalnaad Palace in Kakkabe.

In this image, you can see a part of the mural covering the left entrance corridor, which depicts the king on an elephant accompanied by a large retinue. The upper storey of the palace also has chambers containing scenes of the resident queens and various floral patterns that include raised stucco designs, popular elements in the architectural style of the time. Next time if you are visiting the palace, try to spot the remnants of the murals.

To know more about the different painting styles that adorned the palaces and buildings in Kodagu, head to www.sandookamuseum.org to read the story “A Painted Past” under the category Art and Craft.