Bhoota Kola: the sacred art form of worshipping spirits

Karnataka By Deeksha Devadiga December 21, 2022 Read the article

The Tuluva people, who live in the coastal stretch of Karavali, practise Bhoota Kola or Daiva Aradhana — recently seen in Kantara.

[{"selector":"#anim-fc527e74-3ad8-4283-976d-97816217847f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-030e94aa-c6d7-43a9-b703-8113ad827b8a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.02094%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc1f8578-f168-43ff-b2d8-2520cc44fb65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-255a3122-c6bf-42d7-8e73-ff273f6e3196","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.49131%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02a20892-1122-43a5-9edc-4bee0badddf0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.3186382968601%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

Almost every house has a separate room or corner dedicated to the Bhoota, known as Bhoota Sthana.

[{"selector":"#anim-6d41d978-da94-44f8-80d0-e4300898ddf3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e60305e-f3fd-4bdc-91bd-23dcc5b16c04","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 37.58215%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-032b4ae2-fefd-46a9-85d0-cd551bc909af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd991047-865a-4ed2-a6e6-da8914eb0625","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.29004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-483cf010-1f68-4e55-a237-28702eb028a3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 6.9564178857078565%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

Bhoota worship plays a significant social and economic role. The first offering for any function is made to them.

[{"selector":"#anim-5646b0ab-6aed-4033-858f-373b4befda4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7517335c-0762-48e4-b4d2-5a958ce5042b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cedab014-7ccc-47c1-95bf-261743336d0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2455a921-4b8b-4147-bdda-f15dd7ae0485","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 153.89266%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4df9abd3-1dca-4b51-a9a0-87f8ccfae19c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.601025132275137%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

Bhootas are summoned by priests and offered sacrifices, which include rice, meat, and alcohol.

[{"selector":"#anim-215237f8-d0ce-466d-ae98-5a22800d7746","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b277d31c-946e-44bc-8319-627f9e436be6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 37.58215%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98e2da7c-290b-438d-8e5f-8d863caaceaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4dd4c56-fcee-46d8-ac66-79c5e303bd20","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.29004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ca87795-1590-4be6-b6c9-ce5fa733d601 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.47828882712736%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

There are around 600 Bhootas in the Karavali stretch. Each Bhoota has a story — known as Paddanas, which are epic folk songs.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5f37a1e-bc5d-47a7-8515-cb1b1508d05d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d981306-ef7e-453e-a887-bfc8410e4d5a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3593ae86-f918-4be6-b3d5-af5f81f80393","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cee14527-979e-4f9f-9227-29138f8ace50","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 153.89266%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b20e18e7-0150-41c4-a979-f0451fc28e18 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.3406283918595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

The Paddanas describe the hardship of individual Bhootas in their human or animal form and explains their journey of attaining enlightenment.

[{"selector":"#anim-14686a1a-f8ca-41b4-ab76-7e14f1984907","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e22167c1-6e46-44c8-ae2f-04aa756f0e56","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-931463d7-04df-4fe5-a3e0-52f3b2967f6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d558b60d-8639-40a4-97e5-18ade6230c63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.17157%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-299e5157-b89e-4759-bb18-38ff9ec21deb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-59.29129454686011%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

The Bhootas are not born to fulfil any prophecy or achieve something, said writer and culture expert Dr Purushotham Bilimale.

[{"selector":"#anim-9bb7866a-d264-4000-adef-cc54d19a8563","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45cabec6-1a0c-4ce8-9a7c-a9a0be2457da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d654802c-c1a4-47a1-8d56-ce37e8926bb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eb307c6-22ae-40ad-be32-8895c40302b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.49131%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1979b0b3-bbc3-47b5-b425-91a9598f752f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.28264499328867%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

“One thing that distinguishes them from the Vedic Gods is these heroes are not a reincarnation of any Gods.”

[{"selector":"#anim-8a61fea9-1ac5-4df5-a58a-3857e0d02e37","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20b723e1-5f30-4607-a011-0b150056ce3c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 38.95767%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64b5f093-ef07-4170-a522-808a1a40063d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b485d187-c2f4-42d9-a029-107ab24abf9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.37476%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61285021-9964-4c60-961a-7baad6aada3f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

The heroes in these epic songs mostly belong to the Koraga community — one of the most backward Scheduled Tribes of the district.

[{"selector":"#anim-42da0a00-910a-43da-8908-75d73b06614f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-889deee0-bc12-4203-8d0f-1b10f8f7d335","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e98fd4de-e4c2-4377-bc16-8fbafec86f73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec9834a4-9b60-4238-a260-21b362b4b95d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.17157%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d058997-44c1-42c4-aa77-a688d1be73b0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.98591342926816%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

Bhootas are individuals who grew up in a society that was tough for them because of their birth in a backward community.

[{"selector":"#anim-e4f4ee83-84d4-47c4-8dcb-fc3dbd31c91e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-560cdea6-4f0a-4ccc-951f-f4005a12d6ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.70870%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04de82b3-336a-4bf8-90d5-911d16a6e741","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-046949ac-e7a8-4dd3-91ab-4bc0c6abb8cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.17157%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-236fc4eb-55b8-4a36-b792-664154915a8e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.07627643295512%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article

The village or a family comes together to seek guidance over disputes and respects the decision made by the Bhoota.

[{"selector":"#anim-76a21410-79fc-4a99-9be7-7b7a8244df5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0db7c866-cd8c-465e-be3d-e0ae6eecd3a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 37.58215%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59fde1c0-19c0-4ac8-8403-b3a98059dee9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4a8ac8d-c45b-4815-b2e7-3d6ec441994f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.90020%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be249f33-13a3-4ba1-9d17-bc0a297cc5d9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.580229003126838%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Karnataka Read the article