Festivals and Fairs in Karnataka

The Hindus have several religious holy days, occasions of festivals and fasts throughout the year. Some of the important festivals for Hindus are: New Year Day or Ugadi (the first day of Chaitra month); Ramanavami (the birth day of Lord Rama, the ninth day of Chaitra); Basava Jayanthi the birth day of Basaweshwara (Akshayatritiya); Shankara Jayanthi the birth day of Acharya Shankara (Vaishaka Shuddha Panchami); Kara Hunnime (full moon day of Jyestha, a festival for peasants); Ashadha Ekadashi (the eleventh day of the bright half of Ashadha); BheemanaAmavasya (New Moon day of Ashadha); Nagapanchami the festival of Serpent God (on the fifth day of Shravana); Gokulashtami, the birth day of Lord Krishna (the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Shravana); Ganesh Chaturthi (fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada when God Ganesh is worshiped); Navarathri or Dasara (first ten days of Ashweeja Masa); Deepavali (thirteenth day of dark half of Ashvija) and the festival of light and day to worship Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi (lasts for five days); Bhogi and Makara Sankranthi (on the 13th and 14th January, respectively); Mahashivarathri 13th or the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Magha, a festival in honour of God Shiva; and Holi or Kamana Habba, marking the death of Kama (God of Love) on the full moon day of Phalguna, marked in places with much noise and gay abandon.

In many places, Navarathri is also celebrated as Nada Habba (State festival) and in Mysore, on Vijayadashmi day (the victorious tenth day), the statue of Goddess Chamundeshvari is taken in a colourful procession to Bannimantapa with all pomp and pageantry, consisting of tableaux of historical episodes, infantry, mounted horses, Bharat Scouts and Girl Guides, NCC., Bharat Seva Dal etc. Rama Navami and Ganesh Chaturthi are marked by public celebrations accompanied by speeches, dance and music recitals. Kodavas have three important festivals like Koil Muhurta, Cauvery Sankramana and Huthri (harvest festival).

The chief Muslim festivals are Id-ul-fitar or breaking the fast, which marks the conclusion of Ramazan; Idul-ul-Zuha or Bakrid which is held on the ninth day of the month called Zil-hajah and the Shab-e-Barat which is celebrated during the evening of the fifteenth day of the month of Shaban. Moharram is celebrated publicly in many places by honouring symbols called tabuts. The Christians observe the New Year day, Good Friday, Ascension day. Feast of St. Joseph, Easter Sunday (the Day of Resurrection), birth day of Mary, Christmas (the birth day of Christ), Thanks Giving Day, Harvest festival and church anniversary.

The Jains celebrate most of the Hindu festivals in their own way and according to their own tradition and they give importance for fasting, praying and hearing the recitation of the religious texts. Some of the important festivals observed by them are Chaitra Pratipad (Ugadi) to commemorate the victorious Digvijaya of Bharata, son of Teerthankara Adinatha (Vrishabhadeva); Mahavira Jayanthi (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi); Dasara (Vijayadashami) is believed to be the date when Adinatha attained Kevala Jnana or enlightment and the date when his son Bharata secured his disc or Chakraratna); Deepavali (celebrated as the date of Mahanirvana of Mahavira and they worship Lakshmi and Jnana Lakshmi) and Shivaratri (celebrated as Jinaratri as Adinatha is believed to have attained salvation on the dark 14th of Magha).

The Sikhs observe Guru Nanak's birth day of Karteeka Pournima and Gurudwara inauguration day at Nanak Jhira, Bidar with enthusiasm and pomp with 'akhand pathan' of Guru Granth Sahib. Kirtan and Satsang attract a large number of Sikhs from many places.