The Karavali Wikimedians User Group, in partnership with Tulu Wikimedians and the Wikimedia Foundation, embarked on a transformative journey to preserve and document the cultural heritage of Tulunadu during the Aati month. This initiative, titled the Tuluvas Aati Month Project, captured the unique traditions, rituals, and practices of the Tuluva community through a series of well-structured events spanning December 2024 to January 2025 for educating the Wiki community, Academia, and the common people. This blog reflects the project’s transformative journey, focusing on its purpose to document underrepresented art forms, many of which are at risk of being forgotten and had never been photographed or videographed for digital media which was in my earlier blog Reviving Tuluvas’ Aati Month: Saving the Endangered Mugera Aati Kalenja Tradition. Through events such as the launch in Mangalore, the Edit-a-thon at St. Aloysius University, and grassroots engagement in Puduvettu, the project not only showcased these art forms but also demonstrated to students and communities the processes, challenges, and benefits of such documentation. By emphasizing the research and educational potential of the preserved materials, the project bridged cultural preservation with academia and digital literacy, ensuring that these invaluable traditions are accessible for future study and inspiration.
Participants were introduced to the project’s objectives, progress updates, and future plans. Recorded videos showcasing rituals and traditional practices were presented, followed by in-depth discussions on their significance. With over 15 active participants, this session emphasized the importance of digital preservation for sustaining cultural practices. The event primarily engaged Wikimedia communities from Mangalore, establishing the groundwork for subsequent activities.
The project began with a foundational event at the AJ Grand Elite Hotel in Mangalore. This gathering marked the formal initiation of the comprehensive documentation effort, focusing on preserving the diverse aspects of Tulu culture during Aati month.
In the first week of January 2025, the project hosted a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at St. Aloysius Deemed to be University. This event empowered students to contribute to Wikipedia by creating and enhancing articles on Tulu culture, with a special focus on Aati month traditions.
Ten enthusiastic students participated in the two-day initiative, dedicating their efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of Tulu cultural content. Guided by experts, the participants created well-researched and structured articles, gaining hands-on experience in Wikipedia editing. Engaging 22 editors to improve articles on Aati month traditions, it enriched Tulu-related content on Wikipedia and Wiktionary.
MoU with SDM College(Autonomus), Ujire and Karavali Wikimedians User Group
On January 11, 2025, a landmark event was organized at SDM College(Autonomous), Ujire. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the college and the Karavali Wikimedians User Group, symbolizing a formal partnership to promote Tulu culture through academic collaboration.
The program featured an enlightening talk by Dr. Sundar Kenaje, a distinguished folklorist, who highlighted the critical need to preserve intangible cultural heritage. Following this, cultural documentation demonstrations were conducted by Bharathesha Alasandemajalu and Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana, who showcased the process of recording Aati month rituals and traditions. More than 60 postgraduate students from language and journalism departments actively participated, showcasing enthusiasm and motivation to join the Wikimedia movement.
The project reached grassroots communities with a documentation demonstration held at Aranya Bhavana in Melinadka, Puduvettu. This event aimed to involve local folk artists and residents in preserving their cultural heritage.
This initiative showcased how we can document living heritage and methods for preserving Tulu cultural practices, including rituals, food, and dance forms unique to the Aati month. The event brought together over 10 folk artists and more than 55 community members, including women and children, who actively participated in the demonstrations and discussions. Karavali Wikimedians User Group emphasized the importance of preserving living heritage and encouraged community involvement in contributing knowledge to Wikimedia platforms. Visual documentation captured during the event is now being uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and incorporated into Wiki articles, highlighting how grassroots initiatives can enhance on-wiki contributions while fostering cultural preservation and community engagement.
Significance of Aati Month
Aati month, often perceived as inauspicious, holds profound cultural significance for the Tuluva community. Traditions like Kalenja dances, traditional games, and delicacies are integral to this heritage.
The Tuluvas Aati Month Project meticulously documented these practices to ensure their survival in a rapidly modernizing world. By combining academic precision with community engagement, the Karavali Wikimedians have set a precedent for cultural preservation initiatives. The project focuses on capturing the essence of Tulu culture, emphasizing its unique rituals, traditions, games, cuisine, and other elements that define the Aati month. The monsoon season, during which Aati month occurs, is a period deeply rooted in Tuluva identity. By documenting these practices through videos, audio recordings, photographs, and meticulously written articles, the project aims to ensure their preservation and accessibility for future generations.
The Tuluvas Aati Month Project stands as a beacon of collaboration between academia, grassroots communities, and technological innovation. It underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage and making it accessible to a global audience.
The main project page is here Tuluvas Aati Month
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