• About Us
  • Profile
  • Feedback

Karnataka.com

  • Home
  • Education
  • Real-Estate
  • Government
  • Tourism
  • Recipe And Food
  • Restaurants
  • Festivals
  • Industry
  • ಕನ್ನಡ

Home » Mangalore » Aati Kalenja Festival – A Disappearing Tradition of Tulu Nadu

Aati Kalenja Festival – A Disappearing Tradition of Tulu Nadu

April 3, 2017 by Raggi Mudde

Aati is an inauspicious month as per the Tulu calendar. It is believed that this month has most of the disasters and calamities happening hence the traditions forbid anyone from buying anything new or starting up anything. Aati Kalenja festival is one of the festivals celebrated in Mangalore by the Nalke tribe.

Aati Kalenja

Aati Kalenja. Image courtesy: Vishwanatha Badikana

Aati Kalenja Festival – The Arrival of the Spirit Kalenja

Kalenja festival has a great tradition to look back in history. The festival falls during the rainy season of July-August in the month of Aati. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Kalenja who comes to protect the people from all the bad omens like diseases, bacteria, flood etc.

Usually, the people belonging to a certain group called the Nalike tribe dresses up as Kalenjaand visit all the houses in the village. Kalenja blesses everyone and assures on happy living and even collect some coconut, rice etc.

Aati Kalenja is a folk way of dealing with the nature to protect human from the torrential rains by bringing in the spirit of Kalenja to the earth. Kalenja is a dance form performed to drive away the evil happening on the mother earth and bring in prosperity.

Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangalore Temple

Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangalore. Image courtesy Raghavendra Nayak Muddur

Aati Kalenja Festival Mangalore

The Nalke community in Mangalore dresses up with a costume made of tender coconut leaves, colorful clothes, anklets, caps made of areca nut sheaths etc. Even the person does face paints with various colors and holds an umbrella made of leaves and dances in front of every house with the beats of the instrument tembare.

The Kalenja is dressed up with black and gray face paint with the red mustache and skirt that is made of strands of tender banana leaves and he wears a cobra-like head gear and ornaments made of palm leaves.

The Kalenjaper former visits every house and dances to ward off the evil and then collects little paddy, turmeric, charcoal, coconut etc. and perform rituals to ward off the evils and other misfortunes coming to the family.

Aati Kalenja

Aati Kalenja. Image courtesy: Vishwanatha Badikana

Aati Kalenja – The Mythological Connection

Kalenja was a mythological character with whom the festivals rituals are connected. Kalenja was bestowed with divine powers, but a common man. With his powers, he was the one who was supposed to annihilate all the evils that were happening in the month of Aati.

Aati or Ashada the Month of Nourishment

Aati or Ashada is the month usually accompanied by torrential rain hence most people stay inside. The month of July-August is usually the season of heavy rainfall in those areas. During this month, most of the people follow some strict diets that will help them build immunity and let them be healthy.

Rainy seasons are indeed mesmerizing, yet there are many side effects of the same. Most of the places get flooded with rivers and streams overflowing. Hence nothing can be done in that month, hence there are not many activities done during the month. With these overflows, there is some purification happening, the ponds and rivers that become home to parasites will be cleared, with the excess water flowing away.

The month is observed with much enthusiasm by Nalke tribe in Mangalore, where everyone follows certain rituals and practices and modify their daily routines including, more of Ayurveda and certain foods that help to build immunity in this torrential rain.

Aati month is sacred, as that is the month when people offer to their ancestors and remember them.

Also See

About Mangalore and Festivals

  • Mangalore
  • Festivals of Karnataka 

Filed Under: Mangalore Tagged With: Aati Kalenja, festival in Mangalore

Social

Top Posts & Pages

  • Bangalore Metro – Routes and Fares
    Bangalore Metro – Routes and Fares
  • Online FIR Bangalore And E-lost Report App - Everything You Should Know
    Online FIR Bangalore And E-lost Report App - Everything You Should Know
  • Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
    Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
  • Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme 2025: How To Apply Online And Check Status
    Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme 2025: How To Apply Online And Check Status
  • Ganagapur Dattatreya Temple - History, Rituals And Beliefs
    Ganagapur Dattatreya Temple - History, Rituals And Beliefs
  • Districts in Karnataka
    Districts in Karnataka
  • Swavalambi Sarathi Scheme 2025 - How To Apply Online And Check Status
    Swavalambi Sarathi Scheme 2025 - How To Apply Online And Check Status
  • Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Goravanahalli
    Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Goravanahalli
  • Bangalore Police Helpline Number
    Bangalore Police Helpline Number
  • Bull Temple, Bangalore – An Architectural Wonder
    Bull Temple, Bangalore – An Architectural Wonder

Recent Posts

  • Swavalambi Sarathi SchemeSwavalambi Sarathi Scheme 2025 – How To Apply Online And Check Status
    July 8, 2025
    The Swavalambi Sarathi Scheme, offered by the […]
  • Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme, Karnataka. Source RGRHCLRajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme 2025: How To Apply Online And Check Status
    July 4, 2025
    The economically weaker section of society in […]
  • Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Source Sringeri Sharada PeethamSringeri Sharada Peetham  – Where Divinity Reigns
    June 28, 2025
    Sringeri Sharada Peetham was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Malnad hills, on the banks of the Tunga River. This place is named after the great Rishi Rishyashringa. […]
  • Mavanuru Malleshwara Temple. Source Mavanuru Malleshwara Swami Temple, InstagramMavanuru Malleshwara Temple – The Charming Windmill Temple
    June 27, 2025
    Popularly known as ‘The Windmill Temple’, […]
  • Metro Guidelines For Unlock 4, bangalore metro phase 2, yeshwanthpur metro station, bangaloreBangalore Metro – Routes and Fares
    June 20, 2025
    Bangalore Metro is fast becoming the lifeline of […]
ImmigrationWorld | Airport Commute | NGO/Charity
Home | Media | Personalities | FAQ | About Us | Feedback
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Disclaimer | Sitemap
Copyright © 2025 karnataka.com.
 

Loading Comments...