The annual “Kunde Habba”, which in local language means “Festival of abusing god”, is a traditional festival of the tribal people in Kodagu District. It is celebrated with fervour at Devarapura area near Thithiamthi Village in Virajpet taluk of Coorg. The festival is observed on the fourth Thursday in May.

The use of expletives marks the festival. A large number of tribal people take part in the festival that is also called “Bodu Habba”.

Legend has it that once Lord Aiyappa took the local tribes for hunting in deep forest, but after Lord Aiyappa met Goddess Badrakali in the forest, he fell in love with her and they both eloped leaving the tribes behind.

The tribe, who were abandoned in the dense forest, believed that their god cheated on them. So in revenge these tribes abuse God Aiyappa and Goddess Badrakali for their betrayal and to win back their attention.

The tribes, who felt ignored by Aiyappa's act, started observing the day as a festival to commemorate the incident by abusing the God. They gather once a year and abuse the god for his act of treachery. A cacophony of words starts with "Kunde onde divasa (Kunde only one-day)'' followed by filthiest abuse “%$*&$”. This and the sound of beating objects rend the air, as people watch the participants make merry.

Hundreds of tribal people from Coorg and neighbouring districts participate in this festival abusing their God with kunde songs (abusive songs) and demand alms from the people.

They reach 'Aiyappa' temple at Devarapura in Virajpet, Coorg, at noon where the “Bhandara Takka” or the keepers of the temple wealth, the Sannuvanda family members, will be present. As is the practice, they go round the temple dancing and shouting as a sign of obeisance to Aiyappa.

After abusing the God for almost the entire day, the tribes finally assemble in the temple and dance for hours around a sacred tree in the premises, before they shed their attire to confess their mistake before the Lord and seek his blessings.

They retain some of the money that they had collected by begging and give away the rest to the temple.

The tribal people showcase the importance of their culture and traditions in the face of modernisation. The local Kuruba communities dance to tribal tunes while singing choice obscenities to their village deities.

Over 2,500 tribes belonging to the Jenu-kurubas, Betta-Kurubas, Yeravas, Paniyas, Kembeti and other tribes participate in the festival. It is a part of the tradition that has been passed down to them from generations. For the tribals their culture and old traditions and rituals are still significant.

The tribal participants, dress-up in weirdest cloths, exotic women's attire, body paint, or even apply grease or dark oil all over their body and carry long bamboo poles or skulls & bones in their hands while dancing to the tribal beats and singing vulgar songs all day long.

The tribal members, most of whom are labourers, abuse their employers apart from abusing their God & Goddess. Having been at the receiving end of the employers’ abuse for the whole year, the tribes wish to give vent to their pent up frustration against the employers.