Fan base dwindles for Jayadeva cattle fair

Sri Jayadeva cattle fair at Gudugalale near Shanivarasanthe which commenced from January 25 will be held for 14 days and has been attracting a large number of people.

The cattle fair has a history of 67 years. When Jayadeva Murugha Rajendra Swamiji of Chitradurga visited Belur mutt in Somwarpet, a Veerashaiva sammelan was held at Gudugalale maidan. To commemorate the sammelan, the cattle fair is being organised and was named as Jayadeva cattle fair.

The fair is being held by forming a committee since 1943. The cattle not just from Kodagu but also from neighbouring districts like Hassan, Arakalagoodu, Goroor, Kattaya, Mallipattana, Magge take part in the fair. In fact, it was the then Kodagu state’s Home Minister Kithur K Mallappa who reserved the maidan for cattle fair before the unification of Karnataka. Later, with the help of various organisations, mandala panchayat began holding the fair every year.

The cattle fair was then not confined to sale of cattle alone. It also had amusement activities like the circus, cinema and other entertainment programmes in the past to attract the villagers.

The number of cattle taking part in the fair increased over the years and the cattle were sold at between Rs 15,000 to Rs one lakh. Unfortunately, there has been poor response for the fair this year. However, the number of visitors have increased as the Kannada and Culture department is organising cultural programmes in the evening.

Along with the cattle, the fair includes sale of vegetables, homemade products and others.

The villagers feel that there is a need to provide drinking water, toilet and power supply to the maidan.