Kadalekai Parishe extended to five days, to begin on November 17

Bengaluru’s iconic Kadalekai Parishe, the annual groundnut fair held in Basavanagudi, will be celebrated on a grander scale this year with the festivities extended to five days for the first time. The event, which marks the groundnut harvest, will begin on November 17 near the Bull Temple, Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced on Thursday after a preparatory meeting with elected representatives and officials from the Muzrai Department

“Traditionally a two-day affair, the decision to extend the event follows the success of last year’s Kadalekai Parishe, which attracted nearly five lakh devotees and was recognised as a “Plastic-free Kadalekai Parishe,” Mr. Reddy said.

Siddaramaiah to inaugurate

The festival will be inaugurated at 10 a.m. on November 17 by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The inauguration will begin with a special pooja, featuring the symbolic procession of 21 Basavannas (bulls) to the temple.

The celebrations will take place near the Dodda Ganesha Temple and the Bull Temple during the last Karthika month. According to the Minister, this year, decorative lighting will be extended across Bull Temple Road, Gandhi Bazaar, and N.R. Road, illuminating the neighbourhood for the entire duration of the fair.

In an effort to maintain the event’s eco-friendly credentials, the Muzrai Department, in collaboration with NGOs, will conduct awareness campaigns encouraging shopkeepers and visitors to avoid plastic and use cloth bags instead. “We want to ensure the festival remains completely plastic-free,” Mr. Reddy said.

No tax for road side vendors

The Minister also clarified that as in the previous year, roadside vendors along Bull Temple Road will not be charged any toll or tax. “In the past, contractors who were awarded the tender for tax collection forcibly extracted excessive fees from vendors. Hence, the tender for tax collection has been withdrawn, and the practice of exempting vendors from payment will continue this year too,” he added.

According to the Muzrai department, to ensure smooth conduct of the fair, special emphasis will be laid on health, sanitation, and safety. Continuous power supply, drinking water, and adequate public toilets will be made available. “The Greater Bengaluru Authority, police, and Fire Departments will coordinate arrangements for crowd management and emergency response. Additional CCTV cameras will be installed at key locations, streetlights will be repaired, and marshals will be deployed for crowd control. Fire and emergency vehicles and first-aid facilities will also be stationed at the venue throughout the event,” a official said.