Plans to celebrate Kittur Utsav in a grand manner, says Satish Jarkiholi

Minister Satish Jarkiholi presiding over a meeting to review preparations for the Kittur Utsav in Belagavi on Tuesday. | Photo credit: PK BADIGER

“We have plans to celebrate the Utsav in a big way this year. The state government will release ₹ 5 crore for the festival. The Public Works Department will spend another ₹ 5 crore on various infrastructure development works in Kittur,” said Satish Jarkiholi, Minister for Public Works and in-charge of Belagavi district, in Belagavi at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday in October. 23, 24 and 25.

“We are trying to model it on Mysore Dasara and make necessary changes in the rules and regulations. One of the changes will be to invite celebrated writers or thinkers to inaugurate the function. All these years the district in-charge minister would inaugurate it. But this time we are planning to invite a writer or thinker to inaugurate it. The chief minister and deputy Gmewara will take the decision on DK Chief Shivaku. The chief minister will be the valedictorian,” he said.

The program schedule would be designed to encourage greater public participation in the discussion sessions. Instructions have been issued to the Department of Education to organize events that are particularly beneficial for children and to ensure they have enough time and focus. More emphasis would be placed on indigenous sports such as wrestling during the festival.

“Babasaheb Patil, Kittur MLA, has suggested that a cattle fair be held as part of the Utsav. It will be organized during this year’s festival. A Krishi mela will also be organized to showcase technology, tools and advanced farming practices to help farmers,” the minister said.

‘Vijaya Jyothi Yatra’ will be inaugurated in Bengaluru. He will reach Kittur on the first day of the celebrations. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said that a half marathon will be organized from Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to Kittur Fort.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, NWKRTC Vice Chairman Sunil Hannamannavar, Santosh Hangal, Commissioner, Kittur Development Authority, and other officials were present on the occasion.

Published – 15 Sep 2026 21:25 IST