Pudvar, also called Puddar, is a special celebration of the rural folk along the Udupi coast. Farmers joyously celebrate this festival. It is a ritual of adoring goddess Earth and paying gratitude to the food grains. Also called 'Ill Dinjavune' (filling the house with grains) or Koral Parba (Thene Habba), this festival is celebrated in September before the harvest of 'Enel' crops.
Farmers wash their equipments used regularly both in cultivation and in household activities. The male members of the family apply oil and chewing betel leaves they go to their fields to bring Thene (ear or spike of corn). The head of the family first pays his respects to the crop and to the field and cuts the first 'Thene'. All other members of the family also take a handful of 'thene' each. The number of so collected ears of corn (Thene) taken back home should be an odd number.
The following day is celebrated as Pudvar or Hosa Akki Oota (luncheon with new rice) and folks worship the god of food and crops (Dhanalakshmi). Rice is cooked in milk (or juice) prepared from coconut for dinner. Babies are also fed with rice for the first time.
About 16 sets of banana leaves are placed on the ground and all dishes and curries prepared for the celebrations are kept on them. The number of dishes prepared should also be odd. This food is offered to the gods with pujas, after which the entire family partakes in the celebrations.
