People squatted on the open courtyard at the Guttina Mane (traditional manor house) at Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama on Tuesday observing the ‘Bisu kani’ (arrangement of fruits, vegetables, rice, tubers) and listening to its importance from a scholar.
Even as B.A. Vivek Rai, former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, and Karnataka State Open University, Mysuru, was explaining that Bisu symbolised rejuvenation of the agricultural tradition, people observed the “kani”.
It had locally grown vegetables such as brinjal, cucumber, sambar southe, cheeni kai, ivy gourd and fruits such as jackfruit, banana, cashew apple, coconut, jambu nerale, mango, kokum, hebbalasu — which is very rare now, bread fruit among others. Arecanut, the part and parcel of local life, was also part of the kani.
Mr. Rai said that artisans kept their products in the ensemble of the kani. Bisu symbolised the beginning of new year for Tulu-speaking people. Whoever had paddy filed the land symbolically to signify the sowing when rains start after a month. The youths took blessings from elders on the day, he said.
Mr. Rai said that though people in urban areas have moved away from agriculture, even in urban areas within the available space they could grow vegetables and fruits to keep the farm culture alive.
Grand meal
Later, people had a grand meal in the nadu mane (sheltered area around the courtyard).
The menu included southe sambar, mavina hannu sasive, badane bolu huli, holige, payasa, banana podi, bread fruit podi, mullu southe gatti, moode, and playa, among others.
Many sat on the floor tasting the food served on plantain leaves while some sat on tables.
P.I. Sreevidya, Chief Executive Officer, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, and Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, Commissioner, Mangaluru City Corporation, sat on the floor and tasted the local food.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. consumed the meal at the table. People, cutting across the religious lines, ate the fare together.
Officials of the nisargadhama, including H.J. Bhandary, director, Pilikula Biological Park, S.A. Prabhakara Sharma, Executive Director of the nisargadhama, were attired in the traditional dress of white dhoti and white shirt. According to Mr. Sharma, Bisu was organised publicly for the first time at the nisargadhama. A rangoli competition was also held.
Bisu parba symb-olises rejuvenation of farming tradition. We intend to continue organising it.
B.A. Vivek Rai
Scholar
I am a native of Dharwad. The parba was an occasion to understand local culture and learn about local food items.
Anil Kulkarni
Deputy General Manager, BIRD, NABARD
I won third prize in the rangoli competition. The parba gave exposure to homemakers like me. Well organised.
Tejashree
Homemaker
