In major cities like Bengaluru, people celebrate many festivals, but are you sure you know all of them? One of Bengaluru’s most iconic celebrations is the groundnut fair—Kadalekai Parishe. This festival is a vibrant celebration of local farmers and their harvest. If you’re curious to learn more about what makes it special, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Kadalekai Parishe Festival In Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, during Kadalekai Parishe, farmers from across Karnataka and neighbouring states, such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, come together. They gather to sell freshly harvested groundnuts, reported Hindustan Times. The streets fill with neatly stacked sacks of produce, and draw thousands of visitors who flock to the fair to enjoy and buy the season’s best nuts. While the fair is officially a one-day event, it often continues until all the groundnuts are sold.
The festival has a fascinating origin rooted in history. Centuries ago, farmers from villages like Sunkenahalli, Mavalli, Dasarahalli, and Hosakerehalli faced repeated crop damage from a bull. To protect their harvests, Bengaluru’s founder, Kempegowda, built the Basava (Nandi) Temple in Basavanagudi. Since then, farmers have offered their first harvest at the temple as a mark of gratitude and for protection, creating a tradition that continues till today.
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Five-Day Celebration In Bengaluru
This year, Kadalekai Parishe in Bengaluru is going bigger and better, transforming into a five-day celebration that kicks off on November 15 with the main events scheduled for November 17 and 18. According to The Times of India, in a unique twist, authorities will kick off the festival by performing a puja for 20 bullocks, instead of the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony.
The festival will be completely plastic-free, with strict measures in place to maintain sanitation, crowd control, and prioritising safety. Small traders and roadside vendors will no longer have to pay tax, while popular attractions like food courts and amusement parks are auctioned to the highest bidders.
How excited are you for this five-day celebration in Bengaluru? Tell us in the comments below!
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