Tens of thousands of people attend 204th Sharanabasaveshwar Rathotsava

Tens of thousands celebrate the 204th Sharanabasaveshwar Rathotsava in Kalaburagi, honoring the 18th-century saint's legacy.

Tens of thousands of devotees from different parts of the State witnessed the 204th Sharanabasaveshwar Rathotsava, the annual car festival held as part of the Sharanabasaveshwara Jatra Mahotsava, in Kalaburagi on Sunday.

The historic rathotsava commemorates the death anniversary of 18th century saint and social reformer Sharanabasaveshwar. It continues to attract devotees cutting across caste, creed and communal lines.

This year’s Jatra Mahotsava carried a special emotional significance as the celebrations were held for the first time in the absence of eighth Peetadipathi late Sharanabasawappa Appa whose guidance had shaped the rituals of the Jatra Mahotsava at the samsthan for several decades.

Marking the continuation of the revered tradition, ninth Peetadipathi Sri Doddappa Appa, son of the Sharanabasawappa Appa, performed the customary rituals before the commencement of the rathotsava.

In a deeply symbolic moment, Sri Doddappa Appa, in the presence of his mother Dakshayini S. Appa, who is president of Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardhak Sangha, displayed the holy silver Prasada Battalu (Prasada bowl) and the Linga Sajjike, a sandalwood cover used to preserve the sacred Linga and traditionally associated with Sharanabasaveshwar.

He then blew the conch to signal the start of the rathotsava, following which devotees enthusiastically pulled the flower-bedecked temple chariot around the sprawling temple complex.