Kadalekaye Parishe Bangalore

India is a land of colors and celebrations, of a myriad of ways of lives and festivals. Winter in this tropical country generally reminds one of Pongal, Makara Sankranthi, Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, Maghi Poornima, Shivratri, and Diwali. But in south India it is the time of the first groundnut of the year and they celebrate it as Kadalekaye Parishe in Bangalore.

Also called the Peanut festival, the celebration of Kadalekaye Parishe, Bangalore dates back to almost 600 years ago. During this event farmers offer 'pujas' at the Bull Temple to thank for the crops and ask for blessings on the coming year. A traditional annual groundnut fair by the same name as the festival is also celebrated in Bangalore. The fair marks the groundnut harvesting according to the Hindu lunar calendar and is organized in Basavanagudi area in the city every year.

The bull temple, where the festival and fair occurs, is an ancient heritage of Karnataka dating back to 1786. It was built by Kempe Gowda, tribal chief of Yelahanka (now Bangalore). In the shrine on top of a hill in Basavanagudi smugly sits an enormous garlanded black shiny Nandi (the holy bull, mount of Lord Shiva) carved out of a solid granite block. At 5 meters tall and 6 meters long it is overwhelming with a trident place on its forehead. Three levels of excavation have been carried out beneath the temple. Underground the temple is an equally fascinating Sri-Gavi Gandadhareshwara Temple.

An inherent part of Kadalekaye Parishe, Bangalore is the fair. Hundreds of groundnut traders sell variety of groundnut all through the two day long fair. Some rare and very good varieties of groundnuts are found in this fair. For people living in and around Karnataka it has become a tradition to come and trade on groundnuts here during this two day period. Farmers consider this a good opportunity as there is no middleman involved.

The festival and fair of Kadalekaye Parishe, Bangalore attracts visitors from the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. If you chance upon Bangalore this time of the year do not afford to miss this festival, a part of our mostly forgotten mythical and rich heritage.