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Madikeri: Madikeri is abuzz with activity as preparations are in full swing for the silver jubilee edition of the Muddanda Family Kodava hockey festival, set to commence on March 28.
Groundwork began on March 5 across three venues—two at Field Marshal Cariappa College and one at the District Police Ground. The college grounds are being levelled and converted into hockey fields, while an enclosure is being built around the main ground to accommodate 25,000 spectators. The work is being overseen by Puchimada Changappa, with gallery construction expected to be completed by March 20, according to Muddanda Family members.
To aid the preparations, Tata Coffee Company has provided eight workers, rollers, and water tankers. National hockey referee Appachettolanda Aiayappa will supervise the ground preparations to ensure they meet tournament standards.
With an influx of participants and spectators expected, parking arrangements are also being made for 2,000 vehicles near the venues. Local residents Yaladalu Manoj Bopaiah and Biddanda Dilip Nachappa have allocated their land to accommodate 500-600 vehicles each, Muddanda Family members said.
The 25th edition of the tournament, named the Muddanda Cup, has already seen 280 family teams register, with entries open until March 15. The competition will run from March 28 to April 27, marking the third time the event will be hosted in Madikeri. The tournament was previously held in the city in 2005 (Biddanda Cup) and 2016 (Shantheyanda Cup).
Since its inception in 1997 with the Pandanda Cup in Karada, the Kodava Family Hockey Festival has become a cultural and sporting landmark, celebrating Kodava heritage and its deep-rooted connection to hockey. The festival holds a Guinness World Record, achieved by the Kundyolanda Cup in 2024, and is also recognised in the Limca Book of Records.
Despite disruptions caused by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a four-year hiatus from 2019 to 2022, the festival made a strong comeback in 2023 with the Appachettolanda Cup, followed by the Kundyolanda Cup in 2024.
This year, the Muddanda family has taken up the responsibility of organising the prestigious event, forming a dedicated festival committee to ensure smooth conduct. With large-scale preparations underway, Madikeri is set to witness yet another grand chapter in Kodava hockey history.
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