Mailapur, located in the Yadgir district of North Karnataka, is a quintessential village characterized by winding roads, closely packed hut-like structures, and a populace predominantly involved in agricultural pursuits, cultivating crops like cotton, tur, chilli, and sugarcane. What distinguishes this arid land village is its notable lack of chickens and poultry farming, coupled with the unique practice of every family in the community, numbering around 3,000 people, abstaining from sleeping on cots.
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Shifting focus to the ban on cots, this tradition has persisted for centuries in Mailapur. Villagers refrain from sleeping on cots because it is widely believed that Mallayya and his consort, Goddess Turanga Devi, occupy a cot to bestow blessings upon devotees. In adherence to this belief, villagers, including those who are physically challenged and mothers with newborns, choose to sleep on the floor, prioritizing the avoidance of incurring the wrath of the goddess over the comfort of cots.
Mallappa Pujari, approximately 64 years old, emphasized that the longstanding tradition of “no cot, no chicken” has been faithfully observed in Mailapur for centuries without any exceptions or violations. Interestingly, while the villagers strictly adhere to the prohibition of keeping chickens and using cots for sleeping, there is a distinct allowance for the consumption of various meats, including chicken. Villagers are free to cook and enjoy any type of meat, and they have the option to purchase meat from neighboring villages situated at least 3km away. It’s noteworthy that Mailapur does not host any dedicated meat shops, making the sourcing of meat a communal and neighboring affair.
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