The fire broke out during the inauguration of the Hampi Festival when Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the stage on Friday, as reported by ANI.
Hampi Festival, officially known as Hampi Utsav or Vijaya Utsav, is an annual cultural festival held in Hampi, Karnataka, India. It celebrates the rich heritage, history and art of the region and highlights the legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire.
However, there were no injuries and the fire was quickly brought under control.
Earlier, Siddaramaih had said that henceforth Hampi Festival will be held on November 3, 4 and 5 every year.
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In a post on X, the Karnataka CM said, “The state government is celebrating the Hampi Festival with great grandeur. Late former Minister MP Prakash, during his tenure as Minister for Kannada and Culture, witnessed the magnificence of the Mysore Dasara festival and sought to organize a similar festival in Hampi. MP Hekash took great interest in organizing such a language and literature festival in Hampi. He was a rare individual.”
The festival offers a lively mix of music, dance, theater and folk performances, showcasing classical forms like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi and local traditions. Visitors can also explore heritage walks, guided tours of historic temples and monuments, and exhibitions of arts, crafts and traditional crafts inspired by the empire’s legacy.
Organized by the Karnataka Tourism Department, the festival often includes fireworks, parades and cultural shows that attract tourists from all over India and abroad.
In early January, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the monuments of Hampi in Karnataka and inspected the monument and its tourism infrastructure to ensure better protection.
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In a post on X, the minister shared pictures of his visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed group of monuments in Hampi and said, “He began a two-day visit to Hampi with an in-depth review of the monuments and tourism infrastructure.”
The Union minister, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said he visited key monuments including Queen’s Bath, Royal Enclosure, Mahanavami Dibba, Hazara Rama Temple, Elephant Stables and Lotus Mahal and reviewed their current condition.
Historical Significance of Hampi
The majestic ruins of Hampi were once the last capital of the last great Hindu kingdom, Vijayanagar.
Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the princes of the empire built temples and palaces in the Dravidian style, which attracted the admiration of travelers of the time. In 1565, the city was captured by the Deccan Muslim Confederacy and looted for more than six months before being abandoned, according to UNESCO.
Known for its iconic monuments, Hampi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
(With input from agencies)