Bantwal, August 10, 2016: A seminar focusing on the disappearing traditional food culture of Tulunadu was held at the Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre and Tulu Lifestyle Museum at Sanchayagiri, BC Road, in Bantwal taluk, on Sunday.
The programme was organised by the Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre and Tulu Lifestyle Museum in collaboration with the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA).
Delivering the keynote address, retired professor of the S.V.P. Kannada Studies Institute at Mangalore University, Prof. B. Shivarama Shetty, said human food culture has always been closely connected with changes in nature.
“The food traditions of Tulunadu reflect what people need at different times and seasons,” he said.
Explaining the traditional practice associated with Aati Amavasya, including the preparation of a medicinal drink using the bark of the hale tree, Prof. Shetty said nature plays an important role in transforming the bark into medicine.
He noted that food habits are also closely linked to family life, adding that aspects such as family preservation, kinship and social structures have influenced the food culture of the region.
The seminar, he said, provided an opportunity for meaningful discussion and reflection on these traditions.
Inaugurating the seminar, Menaka Rodrigues, Executive Director of the India Foundation for the Arts, said such discussions can help people understand the diversity and richness of food cultures.
Dr. Tukaram Poojary, founder of the Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre, spoke about traditional Tulu life and the lifestyle of earlier generations. He stressed the need to revisit and understand these traditions in the context of present-day society.
Dr. Ashalatha Suvarna of the centre and programme coordinator Aravinda Kudla were present.
Three Sessions
The first session focused on Tulu society and food culture, with researcher Rajashree T. Rai Perla and traditional food expert Sudarshan Bhat Bedradi as speakers.
The second session discussed the importance of traditional vessels in Tulu culture. Ancient artefact collector and visual artist Purushothama Adve spoke on the subject.
The third session focused on food and health in the changing modern era, with physician Dr. Supreeth J. Lobo as the speaker.
Aravinda Kudla moderated the programme, while Sindhoora T.P. of the Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre proposed the vote of thanks. An information booklet about the Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre was also released during the programme.
Keywords
Tulunadu food culture, Tulu culture, Rani Abbakka Tulu Study Centre, Bantwal, traditional food, Tulu lifestyle, India Foundation for the Arts, Bantwal News, Bantwala Suddi, Citizen News Puttur, Tulu Lifestyle Museum at Sanchayagiri,