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The ‘Aatidonji Dina – Ponjovene Kuto’ (A day in the month of Aashada – women’s meet) organised by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, Department of Kannada and Culture, Udupi Taluk Mahali Mandaligala Okkoota and other organisations, brought the rich culture of Tulunadu to the fore here on Saturday.

The programme began with the folk game of Tulunadu ‘Chenna Mane’. Folk songs and dances were yet another attraction at the event. However, the biggest draw was the mouth-watering cuisine of Tulunadu, which were served for the participants for lunch.

The dishes included ‘huruli saaru’, ‘pathrode’, ‘halsinahannina gatti’, ‘arasina yele gatti’, ‘timerida chutney’, ‘pundi gashi’, ‘neeroppad kukku chutney’, ‘pelakayida milla’, ‘uppad pachir palla’, ‘semayada adde’, ‘tevu, padde, taute kodel’, ‘tojank vade’, ‘patato gasi’, and ‘uppad’.

Inaugurating the programme, Janaki Brahmavar, writer and president of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, said the ‘Aatidoji Dina’ programme had no barriers, as women from all communities came together for this event.

The month of Aashada used to be regarded as tough in Tulunadu a few decades ago. Despite that, people used to collect nutritious vegetables found during that period and keep themselves healthy.

Over the decades, things had improved and Aashada was no longer regarded as a tough. Still, women prepared the dishes to keep the tradition alive. The ‘Aatidonji Dina’ programme was first started in Udupi about a decade and a half ago. It was later organised at other places in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The aim of this programme was to make the younger generation aware of the rich culture of Tulunadu, Ms. Brahmavar said.

H. Gopala Bhatta, writer, and Sulatha Kamath, sportsperson, were felicitated on the occasion. Vasantirao Koradcal, secretary; Jayakar Shetty Indralli, general manager of Badagabettu Credit Cooperative Society; Jyoti Shenava, president of Lioness Club; Manohar Shetty, office-bearer Yuva Buntara Sangha, and others were present.