The month of Aati, is the rainy season, where in there is heavy down pour, with rivers and streams overflowing, creating landslides and swamps which are heaven for parasites, harmful insects and diseases. Hence when the season is blue Kalanja provides folk medicine and relief from sorcery and black magic said Ayurveda Doctor Anasuya Devi. She was inaugurating Ätidonji Dina” function held at All India Radio Mangalore on 16th August 2016 organized by Akashvani Recretation club, Mangalore. She said according to the ancient folklore, one can observe that there are two types of folk medical sciences. The first one is the natural form of folk medicine which involves diagnosis and treatment of physical ailments. Whereas the latter is the religious form, which revolves around sorcery and black magic-often used as a remedy for mental and phychological affliction. Aatikalanja is a ritualistic folk dance performed by the Nalka community. Kalanja is the name of a minor spirit who is in charge of the protection of the village folk during the month of July-August i.e. heavy rainy season in Coastal Karnataka. This time it was between 18th July to 16th August 2016 said by Dr Vasanthkumar Perla in his Presidential address.
Last three years we are celebrating this festival with preparation of local food. This will develop our human relation among us said Dy. Director and President of the Club G. Rameshchandran. Introductory speech made by K. Ashok, Secretary of Akashvani Recreation club. Dr. Sadananda Perla welcome the gathering and P. S. Sooryanarayana Bhat gave vote of thanks. All the staff members of All India Radio, Mangalaore prepared local food by using local cultivated and medicinal value vegetables. Variety of food prepared i.e. Patrode, inji, chagache, soppina baje, ondelaga chatni, kanile pickles, thunder mango pickles, perate payasa, halasina playa, boiled rice, local vegetables papad, salted halasina playa, podi, sambar, masala butter, salted curd, huruli saru, tajank playa, tetla padangi and so on. All these items eatem by using aracanut leaves.
Contributed by: K Ashok, PEX, AIR, Mangalore Mob: 9449259218