As the night thickens, slogans like ‘Hara Hara Mahadev’ start reaching the sky. As if possessed by some supernatural power, devotees move aggressively, like they are preparing for some unusual, daring act... Then suddenly some youth jump on a heap of live coal covered with ash. They start throwing the hot glowing coal at each other! This is how ‘kendadokuli’, a kind of offering made to the local deity, Kalmeshwar, during the annual fair at Beeravalli, a village in Dharwad district, can be described.

Beeravalli, situated about 35 km from Hubli, has shot into fame because of the unique kendadokuli celebrated every year. The celebration, which is held for two days, begins at 8 pm on the first day when the coconut tulabhar of children and deeda namaskar by devotees to appease the god, is held. A mass meal is also served to all the participating devotees.

In the wee hours of the second day, a chariot festival is held with much pomp and gaiety. Kendadokuli is the last phase of the fair. This celebration, which requires real guts to hold live glowing coal, takes place in front of the Kalmeshwar temple on the outskirts of the village. Thousands of devotees from the neighbouring villages participate in the fair. Kendadokuli starts at 4.30 am, after making offerings prepared in the homes of two village heads.

Three palanquins of Kalmeshwar, one each from neighbouring Tavarageri, Elaval and Beeravalli villages are brought in a procession to the temple. A pile of live burning coal is dumped in a ditch in front of the temple. The play of fire balls begins by pouring live coal on the heads of the two village leaders. A thin cloth is generally placed on the heads of these leaders before live charcoal is poured. Later, Harijan devotees step on live coal and beat the drum (halage). Devotees holding palanquins also walk on live coal to pay their obeisance.
By this time, devotees gathered there start chanting ‘Hara Hara Mahadev’ in a high pitch. Then suddenly hundreds of youth and elders fall on live coal and start throwing it on one another. This game goes on for more than half an hour.

Interestingly, nobody gets hurt or suffers any burn injuries even after holding burning coal in their bare hands and throwing it at one another.

“I am playing kendadokuli for over 20 years now and have never suffered any injury,” says the 60-year-old village leader, Shankargowada, with pride.

The live coal used for kendadokuli is offered to Lord Kalmeshwar. Devotees who come from the neighbouring villages collect the used coal as prasad.

It is important to note here that villagers regularly celebrate the fair which was started in the 11th century.