Bengaluru’s love affair with nuts plays out in Basavanagudi

The 500-year-old annual flagship festival of Bengaluru, Kadalekai Parishe, was kicked off on Sunday with Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai offering ‘groundnut tulabhara’ at the Basavanagudi temple.
Kadalekai Parishe is held on the last Monday of Karthika Masa every year, since the 15th century. After two quiet pandemic years, authorities are expecting at least 5 lakh footfalls.One can see mounds of groundnuts being sold on the street opposite the Bull temple. Farmers from neighbouring states are also expected to take part in the festival this year.
This year is also special because after 14 years, the century-old Teppotsava of idol Dodda Basavanna will be held on Kempambudi Lake. The event was discontinued in 2008 due to the bad condition of the lake.
This year, efforts were also made to keep the zone free of plastic.
A bit of history
Before Bengaluru grew in size, villages adjacent to Basavanagudi had several groundnut cultivation farms. Legend has it that every year, groundnut crops would be damaged by a raging bull before harvest. To protect their harvest, farmers prayed to Basava (Nandi) and offered their first crop to the Lord. An idol of Basava was found and Kempe Gowda built a temple around it in the 16th century, the Basavana Gudi or Big Bull Temple. Kadalekai Parishe is centred around this temple and the belief is that Basava or Bull would consume the
farmer’s offering of groundnuts and bless them.
Source: Karnataka Tourism website