Vinayakumar Sorake, former Minister and Senior Congress leader, emphasized the importance of preserving the rich culture, tradition, language, worship, and food habits of Tulunadu, on August 10, in Udupi. He was speaking at the Atidonji Day program, organized by the Udupi Zilla Mahila Congress Committee, at the District Congress Bhanava in Brahmagiri. Sorake stressed that it is the responsibility of the current generation to safeguard and nurture these traditions, and pass them on to the next generation. The elderly in Tulunad, he noted, had lived healthy lives during the challenging month of Ati, by utilizing natural resources such as trees, vines, and tubers as food and medicine. Agriculture, he said, is the foundation of all festivals in the region, and the Aati celebration has evolved in Tulunad in connection with it. The month of Aati was a time of hardship for the Tulu people, marked by heavy rainfall, farm work fatigue, disease outbreaks, and food scarcity. However, the seniors maintained their health by consuming yams, jackfruits, greens, and vegetables readily available in nature. Sorake emphasized the need to introduce the younger generation to these traditions. A special lecture on the ritual was delivered by Shalini Aati, a lecturer at Hiriadka College. The event was attended by District Congress president Jyoti Hebbar, and leaders Kishan Hegde Kolkebailu, Namita Rao, Harish Kini, Sarasu D Bangera, and Niriksha Mendon, among others. The program concluded with the serving of various traditional Ati dishes from Tulunadu to the audience.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi