JOIN USYellu Amavasya is a major festival that is celebrated by the farming community in many parts of Karnataka. The festival celebrates the start of the harvesting season, particularly that of jowar. Furthermore, it acts as a way for the people to mark their gratitude to mother Earth for blessing with good crops and, pray for the same in the coming year. On the occasion, the livestock are also worshipped. It is traditionally observed in the month of December or January on a new moon day of the Margashira month.
On this day, people perform pujas at home and visit local temples. Later, they head towards their fields with their family. With them, they carry the special food that they have made as a part of festive celebrations. The food that is made on this day is unique as it contains grains and vegetables grown in the rabi season. There are several rituals that families perform when they reach their fields. First, they make a temporary temple using sugarcane tops in the middle of the field and then they place five stones around it. Then, a small quantity of food is offered to mother Earth and to the gods by throwing it in all directions of the field with the loud chant of Hovilgol, Surambagigol. This practice is called as charaga chellodu. Some also spread sesame and jaggery all around the field as they are considered to be food for the worms. Once done, the food made is enjoyed by all and the festivities continue through the day.