Kailpoldhu, one of the three festivals celebrated by the Kodava tribes of
Kodagu District, comes during the first week of September. Invariably the festival falls between the 2nd and 4th of September. The word Kail literally means weapon or armory and poldh means worship.
Kailpoldhu day signifies the completion of 'nati' meaning the transplantation of paddy crop, when the Kodava men should get ready for guarding their crop from wild animals. On this day, the weapons are taken out of the puja room and cleaned and decorated with flowers. They are then kept in the 'nellakki nadubaday,' the place of community worship. All the members of the family perform puja to these weapons. After the puja, opulent meal consisting of pandhi curry (spicy dish of pork) is served. The gun is then handed over to the senior member of the family, which symbolizes the commencement of the festivities.
Then the whole family assembles in an open ground (mandh), where physical contests and shooting are conducted. From Kailpoldhu day onwards, the men will spend most of their time guarding their crops from animals.
