Villagers join the procession as part of Kittur Utsav in Kakati, the birthplace of Rani Channamma, on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER
Kittur Utsav, a State-sponsored festival celebrating the 201st anniversary of the victory of Rani Channamma against the forces of the East India Company, was inaugurated on Thursday.
The celebrations began with grand processions in Kakati, the birthplace of the queen, and in Kittur.
Dignitaries garlanded the statue of Rani Channamma in Kakati and walked in a procession in the village.
Discussion sessions on the history of Rani Channamma and cultural programmes will be held for three days.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to participate in the valedictory function on Saturday.
District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi welcomed the Vijaya Jyoti lamp that had travelled across the State as a symbol of Channamma’s victory.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Member of Legislative Assembly Asif (Raju) Sait and others garlanding the statue of Rani Channamma at her birthplace as part of Kittur Utsav in Kakati on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
P.K. BADIGER
He and other dignitaries hoisted the flag of the Kittur kingdom at the circle. The guests garlanded the statues of Kittur Channamma, Sangolli Rayanna and Amatur Balappa.
As many as 121 exhibition stalls related to agriculture, health and horticulture and 37 food stalls of various types have been set up.
Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar inaugurated the folk festival organised as part of the utsav.
Various folk-art groups, including Dollukunitha, Puravanthike, Jaggalagi, Karadi Majalu, Sala Vadana, Palage Vadana, Nadi Mela, Tasevadana, Gombe Kunita, Mysore Nagari, Mahila Nagari, Nandi Dhwaja, Kansale, Chande Vadana, and others participated.
They performed along the main streets of the town despite rain. Some tableaux depicting the history of Kittur were mounted on vehicles and taken around the historic town.
Satish Jarkiholi, MLAs Babasaheb Patil, Vishwas Vaidya and Asif (Raju) Sait inaugurated boating and adventure sports.
Kalmath seer Madiwala Rajyogindra Swamiji, Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S. Guled, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department Shivananda Murgoda, Joint Director of Agriculture Department H.D. Kolekar and others were present.
Karnataka State Finance Corporation Chairman Mahantesh Kaujalagi, Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde and others participated in the inaugural event.
Published – October 23, 2025 08:13 pm IST
