Dussehra was celebrated in Belagavi

Rathotsava, the annual car festival of Sri Venkata Raman Temple, was held in the old city of Belagavi on the occasion of Vijayadashami on Tuesday (October 20, 2026). Photo credit: Special arrangement

Dussehra festival was celebrated with joy and enthusiasm in Belagavi on Tuesday (October 20, 2026). On Tuesday, Simolanghana, a border-crossing ritual, was held at the Vidya Niketan grounds near St. Xavier’s School in Belagavi Cantonment. It attracted people from all walks of life. Worshipers exchanged leaves of the Shami tree (Prosopis cineraria) and the Aapti tree (Bauhinia racemosa) in a symbolic gesture of exchanging gold as a sign of goodwill.

The Patil family members of the old city performed the pooja. They were given various litters carrying the worshiped deities like Venkatramna, Maruti, Jotiba and the Aapti tree.

This Utsav is believed to have been initiated by KT Pujari and Sons in 1901. It involves a procession with five magnificent Devi chariots all culminating in the same plot. These include Marriamma Devi, Muthu Mariamma, Kunti Devi and Mariama of the Telugu colony, who are believed to be sisters. Folk artists performed songs and dances.

The annual car festival or Rathotsava of the Sri Venkat Ramana Temple at Shahapur Vithaldev Galli was organized in the morning. This ritual is said to be 200 years old. Devotees participate in Vaahanaotsav eight days before Dussehra. Lord Vaahanas in the form of tiger, Hanuman, eagle, peacock, elephant, bull, crane and horse were removed. These were held near the Shahapur temple, which has been run by the Naik family for over 200 years. “Prior to independence, the temple used to receive grants from the Nizam of Bijapur,” the organizers said.

Published – 20 October 2026 22:48 IST