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'''Gorehabba''' ({{Lit|cow dung festival}} in [[Kannada]]) is a local Hindu [[folklore]] festival celebrated in a village called Gumatapura, | '''Gorehabba''' ({{Lit|cow dung festival}} in [[Kannada]]) is a local Hindu [[folklore]] festival celebrated in a village called Gumatapura,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pVZuAAAAMAAJ&q=gore+habba |title=Encyclopaedia of the Folk Culture of Karnataka: Introductory articles |date=1991 |publisher=Institute of Asian Studies |language=en}}</ref> a [[Kannada]]-speaking village which lies on the border shared by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2021 |title=Cattle Royale: Dung Fight Marks End of Diwali |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-08/cattle-royale-dung-fight-marks-end-of-diwali/100601634 |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Madhav |first=Pramod |date=4 November 2024 |title=Why does this Tamil Nadu village throw cow dung to end Diwali? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/cow-dung-flinging-festival-chaniyadi-tamil-nadu-end-of-diwali-thalavadi-village-erode-2627614-2024-11-04 |accessdate=10 January 2025 |publisher=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 November 2020 |title=Villagers celebrate unique cow dung splashing ritual |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/villagers-celebrate-unique-cow-dung-splashing-ritual/article33127584.ece |access-date=26 October 2025 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Gumatapura, also spelled ''Gumatapur,'' was formerly part of [[Chamarajanagar district]] in Karnataka and was transferred to Tamil Nadu following the [[Unification of Karnataka|States Reorganisation Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chamarajanagar: People celebrate Gore festival in Gumatapur village on the border of Chamarajanagar! in kannada|url=https://kannada.asianetnews.com/gallery/state/dung-festival-gore-habba-celebrated-in-gumtapur-near-chamarajanagar-gvd-3ln1ruz|website=Asianet Suvarna News|access-date=2026-01-31|language=kn|last=Asianet news|last2=|last3=|last4=|first=Kannada|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Gore festival celebrated every year in Gumatapur village of Chamarajanagar district in Kannada|url=https://tv9kannada.com/photo-gallery/chamarajnagar-gummatapuras-goore-habba-a-celebration-of-unity-and-tradition-kannada-news-vkb-928916.html|website=TV9 Kannada|date=2024-11-04|access-date=2026-01-31|language=kn|first=TV9|last=Kannada}}</ref><ref name="News18Gorehabba">{{cite news | ||
|title=The Gore festival|url=https://kannada.news18.com/news/chamarajanagar/dung-festival-gore-habba-celebrated-in-gumtapur-near-chamarajanagar-1445210.html|work=News18 Kannada|publisher=News18|language=kn|access-date=31 January 2026}} | |title=The Gore festival|url=https://kannada.news18.com/news/chamarajanagar/dung-festival-gore-habba-celebrated-in-gumtapur-near-chamarajanagar-1445210.html|work=News18 Kannada|publisher=News18|language=kn|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> | ||
Dedicated to [[Beerappa]], a god worshipped by [[Kuruba|Kurubas]] community. It is celebrated a day after [[Diwali]]'s [[Balipratipada|Bali Padyami]]'','' whereby the festival involves participants playfully throwing or smearing [[cow dung]] on one another as part of a local ritual tradition. | Dedicated to [[Beerappa]], a god worshipped by [[Kuruba|Kurubas]] community. It is celebrated a day after [[Diwali]]'s [[Balipratipada|Bali Padyami]]'','' whereby the festival involves participants playfully throwing or smearing [[cow dung]] on one another as part of a local ritual tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2021 |title=This Indian village celebrates cow dung festival to mark end of Diwali |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/this-indian-village-celebrates-cow-dung-festival-to-mark-end-of-diwali-101636307698144.html |access-date=6 November 2025 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Phadnis |first=Shekher |date=16 October 2011 |title=A Strange Diwali Celebration |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/strange-diwali-celebration |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128130221/http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/strange-diwali-celebration |archivedate=28 January 2012 |publisher=[[The Navhind Times]] |access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref> | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
{{Main|Beerappa|Kuruba}} | {{Main|Beerappa|Kuruba}} | ||
{{See also|Cow dung#In Hinduism}} | {{See also|Cow dung#In Hinduism}} | ||
As per local legends, god [[Beerappa]], who is worshipped by the [[Kuruba]] community, was born from cow dung; therefore, the festival is celebrated by splashing cow dung on one another. | As per local legends, god [[Beerappa]], who is worshipped by the [[Kuruba]] community, was born from cow dung; therefore, the festival is celebrated by splashing cow dung on one another.<ref name="diwalifestival13">{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Anamika |date=25 October 2025 |title=Inside India's wildest Diwali celebration: Villagers in Karnataka throw cow dung to mark end of festivities |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-inside-indias-wildest-diwali-celebration-villagers-in-karnataka-throw-cow-dung-to-mark-end-of-festivities-watch-4021543/ |access-date=26 October 2025 |website=The Financial Express}}</ref> It is also believed that participating in the cow dung splashing game cures people of all kinds of diseases, which is one of the reasons for keeping the tradition alive, even after hundreds of years.<ref name="diwalifestival2">{{Cite web |title=Gorehabba |url=http://www.diwalifestival.org/gorehabba.html |accessdate=12 April 2013 |publisher=Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI)}}</ref> | ||
[[Cow dung]] has [[Hindu rituals|ritual importance in Hinduism]], where it is believed to have cleansing properties and is used in purification rituals. | [[Cow dung]] has [[Hindu rituals|ritual importance in Hinduism]], where it is believed to have cleansing properties and is used in purification rituals.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Daria |first1=S. |last2=Islam |first2=M. R. |date=2021 |title=The use of cow dung and urine to cure COVID-19 in India: A public health concern |journal=[[The International Journal of Health Planning and Management]] |volume=36 |issue=5 |pages=1950–1952 |doi=10.1002/hpm.3257 |pmc=8239506 |pmid=34037266}}</ref> According to ''[[Shiva Purana]]'', certain [[Ritual purification|ceremonial ablutions]] on the [[Lingam|linga]] are performed with [[panchagavya]] that contains a mix of five substances obtained from cows viz., [[Cow urine|cow's urine]] (''gojala''), dung (''gomaya''), [[Cow milk|milk]] (''[[Kshira|kṣīra]]''), [[Dahi (curd)|curd]] (''dadhi'') and [[ghee]] (''ājya'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shastri |first=J. L. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20655 |title=The Siva-Purana, Part 1 |date=1950 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]}}</ref> | ||
== Festival == | == Festival == | ||
The festival is around 300 years old. | The festival is around 300 years old.<ref name=":1" /> The ceremony begins early in the morning, when men, women and children start collecting cow dung from all over the village and dump it behind the local Beerappa Temple. Later, girls and <!-- half-naked --> boys go around the village collecting oil and butter to offer puja at the temple. They then collect more oil and butter and offer ''puja'' at the Karappa Temple, located one kilometre from the Beerappa temple.<ref name="deccan">{{cite web|date=8 November 2010 |language=en |publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] |title=Dung-slingers aim at peace |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/111150/dung-slingers-aim-peace.html}}<!-- auto-translated from Catalan by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Once the [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] is done, the villagers return in procession. On the way back, one person is designated as the chadikora (sneak). Then a moustache and beard made of herbs are fixed on him, he sits on a donkey and is taken to the temple in procession.<ref name="deccan" /><ref name="diwalifestival">{{Cite web | url=http://www.diwalifestival.org/gorehabba.html | title=Gorehabba | publisher=Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI) | accessdate=12 April 2013}}</ref> | ||
After reaching the temple, the chadikora's moustache and beard are removed and buried in the pit where the dung heap has been deposited. Then, a puja is offered on the cow dung heap and the celebration begins. The first act after the puja is to sprinkle dung on the priest, which is considered the signal to start throwing cow dung at each other. Each person in the village is pushed into the pit and smeared with cow dung. At the same time, thousands of people from the surrounding villages gather to watch the ceremony. | After reaching the temple, the chadikora's moustache and beard are removed and buried in the pit where the dung heap has been deposited. Then, a puja is offered on the cow dung heap and the celebration begins. The first act after the puja is to sprinkle dung on the priest, which is considered the signal to start throwing cow dung at each other. Each person in the village is pushed into the pit and smeared with cow dung. At the same time, thousands of people from the surrounding villages gather to watch the ceremony. <ref name="diwalifestival" /><ref name="deccan" /> | ||
Later, an effigy of the chadikora is made and taken to a nearby hill called Kondigekara Gudda to be burned, along with a chicken. The villagers cleanse themselves in the lake, return to the village and worship the chadikora. | Later, an effigy of the chadikora is made and taken to a nearby hill called Kondigekara Gudda to be burned, along with a chicken. The villagers cleanse themselves in the lake, return to the village and worship the chadikora.<ref name="diwalifestival" /><ref name="deccan" /> | ||
Similar to Gorehabba, people in the village of Kairuppala near [[Aspari]] in the [[Kurnool district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] celebrate [[Pidakala War]]. | Similar to Gorehabba, people in the village of Kairuppala near [[Aspari]] in the [[Kurnool district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] celebrate [[Pidakala War]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2017 |title=People are throwing cow dung at each other |url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/04/07/people-are-throwing-cow-dung-at-each-other-for-good-health-6559947/ |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref> | ||
In 2025, American YouTuber [[Tyler Oliveira]] released videos in which he participated in the festival. | In 2025, American YouTuber [[Tyler Oliveira]] released videos in which he participated in the festival.<ref>{{cite web |last=Basak |first=Anuj |date=24 October 2025 |title=What is Gorehabba? YouTuber Tyler Oliveira seen screaming "They are going to kill me" as he participates in India's cow-dung throwing festival |url=https://www.soapcentral.com/pop-culture/news-what-gorehabba-youtuber-tyler-oliveira-seen-screaming-they-going-kill-me-participates-india-s-cow-dung-throwing-festival |access-date=26 October 2025 |website=[[SoapCentral]]}}</ref><ref name="diwalifestival12">{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Anamika |date=25 October 2025 |title=Inside India's wildest Diwali celebration: Villagers in Karnataka throw cow dung to mark end of festivities |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-inside-indias-wildest-diwali-celebration-villagers-in-karnataka-throw-cow-dung-to-mark-end-of-festivities-watch-4021543/ |access-date=26 October 2025 |website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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* [[Carnival of Ivrea]] – an orange fight in Italy | * [[Carnival of Ivrea]] – an orange fight in Italy | ||
* ''[[La Tomatina]]'' – a tomato fight in Spain | * ''[[La Tomatina]]'' – a tomato fight in Spain | ||
* [[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]] – during which water fights are held in Thailand | * [[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]] – during which water fights are held in Thailand <!-- note: water fights are also held outside of thailand, but the general songkran article only briefly mentions them --> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 10:31, 22 March 2026
11°46′43″N 77°01′31″E / 11.778716°N 77.025208°E
Gorehabba (lit. 'cow dung festival' in Kannada) is a local Hindu folklore festival celebrated in a village called Gumatapura,[1] a Kannada-speaking village which lies on the border shared by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.[2][3][4] Gumatapura, also spelled Gumatapur, was formerly part of Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka and was transferred to Tamil Nadu following the States Reorganisation Act.[5][6][7]
Dedicated to Beerappa, a god worshipped by Kurubas community. It is celebrated a day after Diwali's Bali Padyami, whereby the festival involves participants playfully throwing or smearing cow dung on one another as part of a local ritual tradition.[8][9]
Background[edit | edit source]
As per local legends, god Beerappa, who is worshipped by the Kuruba community, was born from cow dung; therefore, the festival is celebrated by splashing cow dung on one another.[10] It is also believed that participating in the cow dung splashing game cures people of all kinds of diseases, which is one of the reasons for keeping the tradition alive, even after hundreds of years.[11]
Cow dung has ritual importance in Hinduism, where it is believed to have cleansing properties and is used in purification rituals.[12] According to Shiva Purana, certain ceremonial ablutions on the linga are performed with panchagavya that contains a mix of five substances obtained from cows viz., cow's urine (gojala), dung (gomaya), milk (kṣīra), curd (dadhi) and ghee (ājya).[13]
Festival[edit | edit source]
The festival is around 300 years old.[3] The ceremony begins early in the morning, when men, women and children start collecting cow dung from all over the village and dump it behind the local Beerappa Temple. Later, girls and boys go around the village collecting oil and butter to offer puja at the temple. They then collect more oil and butter and offer puja at the Karappa Temple, located one kilometre from the Beerappa temple.[14] Once the puja is done, the villagers return in procession. On the way back, one person is designated as the chadikora (sneak). Then a moustache and beard made of herbs are fixed on him, he sits on a donkey and is taken to the temple in procession.[14][15]
After reaching the temple, the chadikora's moustache and beard are removed and buried in the pit where the dung heap has been deposited. Then, a puja is offered on the cow dung heap and the celebration begins. The first act after the puja is to sprinkle dung on the priest, which is considered the signal to start throwing cow dung at each other. Each person in the village is pushed into the pit and smeared with cow dung. At the same time, thousands of people from the surrounding villages gather to watch the ceremony. [15][14]
Later, an effigy of the chadikora is made and taken to a nearby hill called Kondigekara Gudda to be burned, along with a chicken. The villagers cleanse themselves in the lake, return to the village and worship the chadikora.[15][14]
Similar to Gorehabba, people in the village of Kairuppala near Aspari in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Pidakala War.[16]
In 2025, American YouTuber Tyler Oliveira released videos in which he participated in the festival.[17][18]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Pidakala War – a cow dung fight following Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, India
- Carnival of Ivrea – an orange fight in Italy
- La Tomatina – a tomato fight in Spain
- Songkran – during which water fights are held in Thailand
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Encyclopaedia of the Folk Culture of Karnataka: Introductory articles. Institute of Asian Studies. 1991.
- ↑ "Cattle Royale: Dung Fight Marks End of Diwali". ABC News. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Madhav, Pramod (4 November 2024). "Why does this Tamil Nadu village throw cow dung to end Diwali?". India Today. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ↑ "Villagers celebrate unique cow dung splashing ritual". The Hindu. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ↑ Asianet news, Kannada. "Chamarajanagar: People celebrate Gore festival in Gumatapur village on the border of Chamarajanagar! in kannada". Asianet Suvarna News (in ಕನ್ನಡ). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kannada, TV9 (4 November 2024). "The Gore festival celebrated every year in Gumatapur village of Chamarajanagar district in Kannada". TV9 Kannada (in ಕನ್ನಡ). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "The Gore festival". News18 Kannada (in ಕನ್ನಡ). News18. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ↑ "This Indian village celebrates cow dung festival to mark end of Diwali". Hindustan Times. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ↑ Phadnis, Shekher (16 October 2011). "A Strange Diwali Celebration". The Navhind Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ↑ Sinha, Anamika (25 October 2025). "Inside India's wildest Diwali celebration: Villagers in Karnataka throw cow dung to mark end of festivities". The Financial Express. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gorehabba". Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI). Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ↑ Daria, S.; Islam, M. R. (2021). "The use of cow dung and urine to cure COVID-19 in India: A public health concern". The International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 36 (5): 1950–1952. doi:10.1002/hpm.3257. PMC 8239506. PMID 34037266.
- ↑ Shastri, J. L. (1950). The Siva-Purana, Part 1. Motilal Banarsidass.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Dung-slingers aim at peace". Deccan Herald. 8 November 2010.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Gorehabba". Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI). Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ↑ "People are throwing cow dung at each other". Metro. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ↑ Basak, Anuj (24 October 2025). "What is Gorehabba? YouTuber Tyler Oliveira seen screaming "They are going to kill me" as he participates in India's cow-dung throwing festival". SoapCentral. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ↑ Sinha, Anamika (25 October 2025). "Inside India's wildest Diwali celebration: Villagers in Karnataka throw cow dung to mark end of festivities". The Financial Express. Retrieved 26 October 2025.