Festivals and Fairs of Karnataka Culture

CS Mahostsava

Festivals  of Karnataka

Mysooru DassaraMysooru Dassara

Dassara is the main Hindu festival of Karnataka. This ten days Dassara is the main Hindu festival of Karnataka. This ten days festival was celebrated with extravagance by the rulers of festival was celebrated with extravagance by the rulers of Vijayanagar Empire. Later, this became a tradition. The festival Vijayanagar Empire. Later, this became a tradition. The festival was celebrated at Mysore where a Durbar was held for 9 days was celebrated at Mysore where a Durbar was held for 9 days and on the 10th day a huge procession was taken out with and on the 10th day a huge procession was taken out with decorated elephants, colorful folks and much more. It is still decorated elephants, colorful folks and much more. It is still celebrated in Mysore with great pomp and showcelebrated in Mysore with great pomp and show. 

Festivals  of Karnataka

Yugaadi Yugaadi

Yugadi is considered as the New Year's Day in Kannada Yugadi is considered as the New Year's Day in Kannada tradition. It falls on the late March or early April and is tradition. It falls on the late March or early April and is celebrated all over Karnataka. On this day the dinner is celebrated all over Karnataka. On this day the dinner is specially prepared and it starts with jaggery and neem leaves. specially prepared and it starts with jaggery and neem leaves. This depicts that life is nothing but a bundle of joys and This depicts that life is nothing but a bundle of joys and sorrows. sorrows.

FestivalsFestivals   of Karnataka of Karnataka

Karaga Karaga

This festival is mainly celebrated at the Darmaraya This festival is mainly celebrated at the Darmaraya Temple in Bangalore. It is celebrated on the full Temple in Bangalore. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Chaitra, the first month of Hindu moon day of Chaitra, the first month of Hindu Calendar. This festival is celebrated in the honor of Calendar. This festival is celebrated in the honor of Draupathi, the spouse of Pandavas, famous Draupathi, the spouse of Pandavas, famous religious characters from the great Hindu epic, religious characters from the great Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Mahabharata.

FestivalsFestivals   of Karnataka of Karnataka

Makara SankrantiMakara Sankranti

The Sun enters the Makara raasi (the zodiac sign of The Sun enters the Makara raasi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day, signifying the Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day, signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam.The following has been onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam.The following has been translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam of translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam of the great Vaishnava devotee Sripad Madhwacharya.the great Vaishnava devotee Sripad Madhwacharya.

Other festivals of KarnatakaOther festivals of Karnataka

Karnataka has a multi-religious population. Thus, Karnataka has a multi-religious population. Thus, festivals of all religions are celebrated here. Some of the festivals of all religions are celebrated here. Some of the Muslims festivals celebrated here are Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Muslims festivals celebrated here are Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Milad-un-Nabi and Moharrum. Christians residing Adha, Milad-un-Nabi and Moharrum. Christians residing in the state celebrate festivals like Christmas, Easter, in the state celebrate festivals like Christmas, Easter, Good Friday etc along with the rest of the nation. Good Friday etc along with the rest of the nation. Buddhist and Jain festivals like Buddha Poornima and Buddhist and Jain festivals like Buddha Poornima and Mahaveera Jayanthi are also celebrated in certain regions Mahaveera Jayanthi are also celebrated in certain regions of the State. of the State.

Other Hindu festivals of KarnatakaOther Hindu festivals of Karnataka

Some of the other Hindu festivals that are celebrated in Karanataka along with the rest of the country are Makara Samkramana, Sri Ramanavami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Deepavali.

FairsFairs   of Karnataka of Karnataka

Sri Vithappa FairSri Vithappa Fair

This fair is held in the honour of Vithappa, the This fair is held in the honour of Vithappa, the deity of the village, Vithappa. It is a three days deity of the village, Vithappa. It is a three days festival and about 7 to 8 thousand people gather festival and about 7 to 8 thousand people gather during the fair. This fair has a religious and folk during the fair. This fair has a religious and folk importance.  importance. 

State FestivalKannada RajyotsavaKannada Rajyotsava

The Rajyotsava Day is celebrated on the 1st of November every The Rajyotsava Day is celebrated on the 1st of November every year. This day marks the formation of the Karnataka State. year. This day marks the formation of the Karnataka State. Apart from this, other state festivals celebrated here are the Apart from this, other state festivals celebrated here are the Coorg festival, Hampi/Vijayanagar festival and the Hoysala Coorg festival, Hampi/Vijayanagar festival and the Hoysala festival. These festivals celebrate the rich cultural heritage of festival. These festivals celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.Karnataka.

FairsFairs   of Karnataka of Karnataka

The Godachi FairThe Godachi Fair

The Godachi fair is held at Godachi village in The Godachi fair is held at Godachi village in Ramdurg Taluk of Karnataka. It is held in the month Ramdurg Taluk of Karnataka. It is held in the month of Kartik This fair is held in the honour of Shri of Kartik This fair is held in the honour of Shri Veerabhadra and it is organized by the government of Veerabhadra and it is organized by the government of Karnataka.  Karnataka. 

FairsFairs   of Karnataka of Karnataka

Shri Yellamma Devi FairShri Yellamma Devi Fair

The Yellamma Devi fair is one of the important fairs of The Yellamma Devi fair is one of the important fairs of Karnataka.  The popular fair is held on various occasions Karnataka.  The popular fair is held on various occasions from October to February months but the credit of the from October to February months but the credit of the largest fair owes to Margasira, which is held on the full largest fair owes to Margasira, which is held on the full moon day.moon day.The Yellamma fair is organized in the honor of Yellamma The Yellamma fair is organized in the honor of Yellamma Devi or Renuka, at the Yellamma temple located at Devi or Renuka, at the Yellamma temple located at Saundatti in Belgaum district.Saundatti in Belgaum district.

FairsFairs   of Karnataka of Karnataka

Banashankari Devi Fair

The Banashankari Devi fair is held near Badami. It is The Banashankari Devi fair is held near Badami. It is an annual fair held in the month of January on the full an annual fair held in the month of January on the full moon day. This fair lasts for 10 to 12 days. At the fair, moon day. This fair lasts for 10 to 12 days. At the fair, villagers buy agricultural items, utensils and other villagers buy agricultural items, utensils and other articles of domestic needs.articles of domestic needs.

Festivals And Fairs of Public CultureFestivals are sites to analyse trans-national identities

and gain a better understanding of the meaning of kannada culture

How do festivals frame the discourse of identity in relation to arts, with particular attention to the kannadiga and global interfaces as well as the issue of cultural diversity?

How can we interpret trans-national /cosmopolitan identifications as seen through festivals?

Festivals are an important expression of Festivals are an important expression of aesthetic public cultureaesthetic public culture

THANK YOUTHANK YOU