The Kodava Hockey Festival - Experience The Thrill Of Heritage In Sport

When the first whistle echoes across the ground at Napoklu, a serene village in the Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka, India, on April 5, 2026, it will not simply begin a hockey match.

It will mark the opening of a month-long celebration in the heart of Kodagu district—a celebration where sport, family, and tradition come together in a way rarely seen anywhere else in the world.

Welcome to the Kodava Hockey Festival. In this tranquil village of Kodagu, hockey is not just a sport played on a field; it is part of everyday identity. The region proudly speaks of its three C’s—Cauvery, Coffee, and KM Cariappa. Over the years, the Kodava Hockey Festival has earned its place alongside them as a symbol of pride and unity.

The story of the festival began in 1997 with a simple but powerful idea. Pandanda M. Kuttappa, a retired banker and former first-division hockey referee, along with his brother Kashi Ponnappa, wanted to bring Kodava families closer. Many clans—known locally as vakkas—had grown distant over time. They believed that sport, especially hockey, could bring everyone back together.

The first edition, held in Karada, had just 60 family teams. It was modest in scale but rich in spirit. Families gathered, elders watched proudly, and young players ran across the field with excitement. What no one knew then was that this small effort would grow into the largest family-based field hockey tournament in the world.

Today, nearly three decades later, the festival has broken records and crossed boundaries. In 2024, the edition hosted by the Kundyolanda family entered the Guinness World Records as the largest field hockey tournament globally, with more than 360 teams and over 5,000 players. The 2025 Silver Jubilee edition in Madikeri, hosted by the Muddanda family, raised the bar even higher, with 396 family teams and 58 women’s teams participating. The event has also been recognized multiple times in the Limca Book of Records.

Yet, what truly sets this festival apart is not just the numbers—it is the rules and the spirit behind them.

Each team must represent a single vakka. There are no mixed teams, no external players. It is about playing for your family name. This rule gives the tournament a special emotional value. Grandfathers, fathers, and sons often play together on the same team; it is not unusual to see three generations sharing the field. Women are active participants too and can represent either their paternal or marital clans. There is no age limit.

The festival takes place every year during April and May, turning Kodagu into a lively gathering ground. Families travel from across India and even from abroad to take part. For many, it is more than a sporting event—it is a homecoming. Relatives reconnect, old friendships are renewed, and children learn about their roots.

The atmosphere during the tournament is festive and warm. The grounds are filled with cheering spectators, colorful traditional attire, and the aroma of local food. Between matches, families sit together, sharing stories and laughter. It is also a time when young players get noticed and encouraged. Many children who first picked up a hockey stick during the festival have gone on to play at higher competitive levels.

Tradition is deeply woven into every detail. The inauguration ceremony includes the symbolic push of a silver ball with a silver hockey stick by the President of the Kodava Hockey Academy. In the 2025 Silver Jubilee year, a special torch run connected the Ain Manes—ancestral homes—of families that had hosted the festival in the past. It was a touching tribute to continuity and gratitude.

The organizing responsibility rotates among families each year. The host family arranges the ground, infrastructure, and logistics, supported by sponsors and government grants.

On the field, competition is intense. Some clans have built strong legacies over the years, winning multiple titles. The Mandepanda clan clinched the championship in 2025, while others continue to fight hard to add their names to the roll of honor.

The Kodavas’ natural connection to hockey has historical roots. Many members of the community have served in the Armed Forces, bringing discipline and physical endurance into their sporting culture. As Rashin Subbaiah Muddanda, who promotes the festival in the digital space, explains, the Kodavas have quickly embraced the sport, and with encouragement from the community, it has flourished and become part of their identity.

Now, as the 26th edition approaches, the Chenanda family is gearing up to host the tournament at Napoklu from April 5 to May 2, 2026. Organizers expect more than 400 family teams and over 100 women’s teams to participate, making it one of the biggest editions yet. Temporary stands, practice areas, and support facilities are being set up to welcome thousands of players and visitors.

After nearly 30 years, the Kodava Hockey Festival stands as more than just a sporting event. It is a celebration of belonging. It is where family names are worn with pride on jerseys, where elders cheer for grandchildren, and where tradition and modernity meet on the same field.

Come and be part of this celebration to witness the spirit and thrill of a heritage game.

Pandanda K Bopanna

President, Kodava Hockey Academy

Kodava Hockey Academy , which is responsible to oversee the conduct of the annual hockey festival is working on possibilities to getting private universities in cities of Karnataka to promote the game of hockey in their campuses and also asking for the PSUs and nationalised banks to form hockey teams, so as to provide employment opportunities to the players.

Rooted in military tradition, the Kodavas bring discipline, endurance and pride to hockey, shaping a strong and enduring sporting culture.