With a few days left for Makara Sankranti, the people in predominantly agricultural districts are gearing up to celebrate it.
‘Ragi mudde’ eating competitions were organised in several places to uphold rural food habits and cultural traditions.
The competition conducted by Grameena Kreede and Samskrithika Kalavedike, Malur, on Sunday evoked a good response with around 30 people participating.
Winners were declared based on who ate the maximum number of ragi mudde, each weighing 250 gm, in half an hour. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries were provided.
The contestants wolfing down the ragi mudde, one after another, were supported by spectators with applause and whistles.
Gurappa Shetty of Doddakadathur village who ate 12 ragi mudde was the winner. He won Rs. 5,000 and a trophy. Mahar Pasha of Malur came second after eating nine ragi mudde and won Rs. 3,000. Chalaganahalli’s Muniraju who ate eight mudde won the third prize and Rs. 2,000. The organisers of the competition wanted to send the message that eating ragi was good for health and that it had medicinal value.