CM's native village set for Siddarameshwara Jatra

To be held from March 23, first jatre for Siddaramaiah as chief minister

Come March 23 and all roads will lead to Siddaramanahundi, the native village of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in Mysuru district. The village, situated 21 km from Mysuru city, off T Narsipur Road, is preparing to host Siddarameshwara Jatra (fair). What assumes significance this time is, the fair is being held for the first time after Siddaramaiah took oath as the chief minister on May 13, 2013.

The two-day event, scheduled to begin from March 23, will also witness the dedication of the renovated Sri Siddarameshwara Swamy and Chikkamma Thayi temples.
Siddarameshwara is the family deity of the chief minister, who though an atheist never misses an opportunity to pay his obeisance to the deity whenever he visits the village. Most importantly, during the jatra, Siddaramaiah will dance to the beat of native drums. He has been dancing ever since a young boy and the dance form is called ‘Veeramakkala Kunita’.

On Saturday, when the chief minister came to his native to cast his vote on account of Zilla and Taluk panchayat elections, he took time to inspect works, in final stages, of the temples, kitchen (to prepare ‘prasada’ for the devotees), and community hall with a commercial complex having shops meant to sell puja items.

Preparations made
The chief minister, who was keen on giving a new look to the temple complex, had even postponed the jatra, that was scheduled to be held in 2015. The once in three years religious fete was previously held in 2012. After Siddaramaiah assumed office as chief minister, works on laying concrete roads at nine villages in Yadakola Gram Panchayat limits and under Suvarna Grama Yojane, along with temple works, were launched. While Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) took up the works, the temple works were taken up with the help of philanthropists, including the chief minister himself.

Hence, the chief minister was of the opinion that stopping works midway in the name of preparation for a religious event was uncalled for. So, the fair was postponed, while the works were continued.

A 5.3-km stretch of road that connects the village with the main road is concretised, besides building a 7.3-km stormwater drain at an estimated cost of Rs 3.4 crore. The total works, in nine villages, were taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 9.4 crore. The villages include Siddaramanahundi, Yadakola, Kuppegala, Srinivasapura, Kadave- kattehundi, Anchehundi, Hosahalli and Devegowdana- hundi.