Suggi Kunita

The festival dance of the "Haalakki vakkaliga" performed (by men folk in the past) during the harvest season is called "Suggi Kunita" in the North Coastal Karnataka.

The "Suggi" is taken out on the occasion of "Kamana Hunnima". The "hooli" festival begins in the month of march and the dance starts on full moon day or at the earliest 4 days before the full moon.



In groups of either 12 or 14 men folk move from village to village by beating the "Gummate" (percussion) drums and sing songs of fertility, collect the cash and grains and on full moon day dance in front of the community house. When it returns after its tour on the Kamana Hunnime day Kama is burnt followed by festivities. The Suggi procession is believed to eradicate diseases in the village, bring rains and fulfill the wishes of the people. The Suggi artistes are mostly farmers.


The artists wear beautiful costume and headgear made of softwood, decorated with many carved birds and flowers that looks like the crown of fertility. The group dances with sticks in one hand and a brush made of peacock feathers in the other.


Along with clown characters they amuse the audiences. The minor comic characters are identified as 'sooginavaru' or 'haasyagaararu'.The suggi procession to the singing and dancing with the background of "Gamate" is greeted in every house with aarthi.