Karavali Wikimedians/Annual Report 2024

Karavali Wikimedians Annual Report 2024

Major Milestones Achieved by Karavali Wikimedians

Tulu Wiktionary: A Comprehensive Dictionary

The Tulu Wiktionary serves as a digital dictionary, offering an expansive compilation of Tulu words, meanings, and their usage. This platform helps preserve the rich vocabulary of the language and offers easy access to linguistic knowledge for learners and speakers alike. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that Tulu remains alive in the digital age, making it available to a worldwide audience.

Tulu Wikisource: A Repository of Literary Works

The Tulu Wikisource platform, on the other hand, acts as a repository for Tulu’s literary works. It includes a variety of texts—from folk literature to contemporary writings—preserving these works in digital format. This initiative ensures that Tulu literature is not only safeguarded but also accessible to a broader audience. By creating an online archive, these works can be studied, shared, and appreciated by both Tulu speakers and those interested in the language's rich literary tradition.

Revealing the essence of Tuluvas Aati Month

Aati, the sacred month in the Tulu calendar, holds profound cultural and spiritual significance within the Tuluva community. Celebrated during the monsoon season, Aati is not just a time for rituals and traditions, but a reflection of the deep bond between the people and nature. This month is marked by unique practices, folklore, and a sense of reverence that showcases the Tuluva identity.
The Aati month is characterized by several sacred traditions, with one of the most notable being the Aati Kalenja dance. Performed to invoke blessings and ward off negative energies, this ancient dance form is a way for the community to stay connected to spiritual forces and natural elements. Beyond rituals, the month is also a time for the consumption of traditional herbal remedies and special foods, which are believed to strengthen immunity and maintain good health, particularly during the rainy season. These foods and medicines hold much symbolic value, often derived from local flora.

Aatikalanja chatra
Muger Aati Kalenja and villegers
Marde , Tuluvas Aati Month Documentary
Mugera Aati Kalenja and Performance

Cultural Preservation

To ensure the preservation of Aati traditions and pass them down to future generations, dedicated efforts have been made by cultural enthusiasts. One such initiative is led by the Karavali Wikimedians—a group committed to documenting and reviving Aati practices, including folk performances, oral traditions, and the knowledge associated with the month. The project has successfully highlighted various aspects of Aati Month through articles, photographs, and videos uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, showcasing the region's heritage to a wider audience.

Aati Kalanja Sullia
Aati Agel - Prayer
Aati Kasahaya with Fenugreek Porridge
Merara Ati Kalenja at Puduvettu, Belthangadi on 2024
Ati ritual at Belthangady - ಆಟಿ ಅಗೆಲು - ಗುಳಿಗ ದೈವಕ್ಕೆ ವರ್ಷಾವದಿ ಅಗೆಲು

The Role of Community

The effort to document Aati Month is not a singular endeavor. It involves a collaborative team that includes:

General Coordinators: Bharathesha Alasandemajalu and Vishwanatha Badikana.
Community Team: Kishore Kumar Rai, Vinoda mamatharai, Yakshitha, and User:~aanzx.
Tech Team: Chik.
Media Team: Ashay vb.

Competitions and Engagement

The initiative also included competitions such as article writing contests in the Kannada and Tulu languages on Wikipedia, as well as a photo-uploading competition on Wikimedia Commons. These competitions allowed individuals from across the community to contribute content that reflects the cultural richness of Aati, from detailed articles to captivating photographs. By fostering participation, these competitions have further promoted awareness and celebration of Aati Month.

Barnstar of Tuluvas Aati Month

Event and Trainings Conducted

Tuluvas Aati Month - Wikipedia Edit-a-than

The Tuluvas Aati Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon was held successfully at St. Aloysius Deemed to be University on January 4-5, 2025. The event engaged 10 students in enhancing Wikipedia content related to Tulu culture, with a focus on Aati Month. Participants contributed by adding new articles and improving existing ones, while also learning the basics of Wikipedia editing. Guided by experts, the event fostered cultural preservation, digital literacy, and a deeper understanding of Tulu traditions.

Tuluvas Aati Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 14 41 45 911000
Tuluvas Aati Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
Tuluvas Aati Month Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 14 41 53 598000
Tuluvas Aati Month Editathon Photos 13 50 44 792000

Monthly Online Meetings

MCDC Discussion

Participation in Conferences

Wikisummit 2024

Wiki Technical Training 2024

Train The Trainer 2024

3nd Wikimedia Technology Summit

Seven members from the Karavali Wikimedians User Group—Pavanaja, Bharathesha Alasandemajalu, Santhosh Notagar, Hariprasad Shetty, Babitha, Kavitha and Yakshitha—attended the 3rd Wikimedia Technology Summit held in Hyderabad.

Karavali Wikimedians/Annual Report 2024