Tulu Gowda

Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu Vokkaliga Gowdas

Emblem of Tulu (Dakshina Kannada) and Arebhashe (Kodagu) Vokkaliga Gowdas.
Total population
(approx 0.4 million in South Canara and Kodagu)
Regions with significant populations
Dakshina Kannada, Coorg, Bangalore, Mysore
Languages
Tulu and Are Bhashe Are Kannada
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Tuluvas, Kodavas, (10Kutumba-18Bali/Ghotra), Vokkaliga, Gowda

Tulu Gowda ((Kannada: ತುಳು ಗೌಡ್ರು) Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu Gowda) communities, as their name indicates, hail mostly from those districts. Tulu Gowdas are Vokkaliga community they are speak Are Bhashe / tulu in Dakshin Kannada and Are Bhashe in Kodagu places. Originally they are the migrants from Ikkeri (present Shimoga District). They were originally Natha Pantha and Shivaites owing allegiance to Sringeri Matha. Later Emperor Vishnuvardhana's rule they became Vaishnavites and worship 'Tirupati Timmappa' (Balaji of Thirupati) and 'Sabbakka' (Sharada of Sringeri). They speak the Are Bhashe or Gowda Kannada dialect of Tulu and Kannada. They are said to have 10 Kutumba and 18 Balis as their primordial root families, from which arose around a Nooru Mane or hundred families. Concerning the Vokkaligas in the district of Dakshina Kannada & Coorg, Rev. G. Richter, in Gazetteer of Coorg (1870) lists them as Tulu Gowdas (Vokkaligas in Dakshin Kannada and Kodagu) who migrated to Coorg (Kodagu) from the Mangaluru-Udupi (Dakshina Kannada-Udupi) region under the Canarese (Kannada) speaking peoples.

Tulu or Are Bhase Gowdas are a major ethnic group in parts of Dakshina Kannada, like Sullia, Puttur, parts of Bantwal and Belthangady Taluks, and in parts of Kodagu.

Gowdas believe that people from same Bali or Gotra cannot marry as they have originated from the same base family. However, cousin marriage between children of brother and sister is accepted (but not between children of two brothers or two sisters). Once married, a girl assumes the okka name of her husband. This community following bari (bali or gotra) system. He was not married same bari('sagotra' marriages). And he was 'Makkala Kattu' system followed.

Gowdas 18 Gotra or Bari is

Tulu/Kodagu Gowdas are celebrate Huttri Habba. Huttri means new rice and is the rice harvest festival (also called huttari in Kannada). This takes place in late November or early December.