<p>Kalaburagi: Thousands of devotees witnessed the Rathotsava of the historic Sharana Basaveshwar Jatra Mahotsav to commemorate the 203rd death anniversary of the 18th-century saint in the sprawling shrine complex here on Wednesday.</p><p>The devotees believe that saint Sharana Basaveshwar, who spent his entire life for the welfare of the people and fulfilling the needs of the poor and deprived sections of the society, had predicted his death five days after the Holi celebrations.</p><p>The decorated chariot carrying the idol of Sharana Basaveshwar was drawn around the shrine complex amidst the slogans praising the social reformer. The chariot was decorated with flowers, fruits and colourful papers. A large number of devotees converged at the shrine complex to witness the Rathotsava and pay their obeisance to the saint. </p><p>The shrine complex was teeming with people, particularly women walking from their homes barefoot to the shrine. </p><p>Traditional rituals, including the presentation of ‘Naivedya’ consisting of the ‘Huli Bana’, a special dish prepared out of the freshly harvested jowar, were performed on the occasion. The dish is cooked and mixed with fresh curd made of cow’s milk.</p><p><strong>Security arrangement</strong></p><p>The police officials had put barricades on both sides of the route to prevent any untoward incidents. The decorated chariot was pulled. </p><p>The heavy presence of the police and home guards prevented people from breaking the barricades and entering the prohibited area.</p><p>Braving the scorching sun and oppressive weather conditions, the people occupied every space to witness the moment. </p><p>The Prasada Battalu (silver bowl in which saint Sharana Basaveshwar used to have his food) and the Linga Sajjike (the idol of sacred Linga placed in a silver casket that was worn by the saint) were displayed to the devotees, who had thronged the shrine complex.</p><p>Both the eighth Peetadhipathi of the Sharanabasaveshwar Samsthan Sharnbasvappa Appa and his son Chiranjeevi Doddappa Appa, the ninth Peetadhipathi, presided over all the religious rituals before and after the Rathotsava. </p><p><strong>Festive look</strong></p><p>Kalaburagi wore a festive look with festoons tied all around the City. The entire City was transformed into a Dasoha Mahamane with people putting up pandals and special stalls on all roads leading to the shrine and offering free food, water and buttermilk to devotees.</p><p>The ardent devotees of the saint walked miles from their native villages of the neighbouring districts, including Raichur, Vijayapura, Bidar, and bordering districts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to fulfil their wishes and pay their obeisance to the saint.</p><p>The death anniversary of the saint was observed as an auspicious day by the devotees by fasting throughout the day. They also performed poojas and partook, specially prepared dishes, including sweets after the Rathotsava. As part of the Rathotsava, a 10-day-long Jathra was organised in the Jathra Ground in which the traders from different parts of the country exhibited their products and a special enclosure was reserved for the entertainment, fun and frolic for the children.</p>
<p>Kalaburagi: Thousands of devotees witnessed the Rathotsava of the historic Sharana Basaveshwar Jatra Mahotsav to commemorate the 203rd death anniversary of the 18th-century saint in the sprawling shrine complex here on Wednesday.</p><p>The devotees believe that saint Sharana Basaveshwar, who spent his entire life for the welfare of the people and fulfilling the needs of the poor and deprived sections of the society, had predicted his death five days after the Holi celebrations.</p><p>The decorated chariot carrying the idol of Sharana Basaveshwar was drawn around the shrine complex amidst the slogans praising the social reformer. The chariot was decorated with flowers, fruits and colourful papers. A large number of devotees converged at the shrine complex to witness the Rathotsava and pay their obeisance to the saint. </p><p>The shrine complex was teeming with people, particularly women walking from their homes barefoot to the shrine. </p><p>Traditional rituals, including the presentation of ‘Naivedya’ consisting of the ‘Huli Bana’, a special dish prepared out of the freshly harvested jowar, were performed on the occasion. The dish is cooked and mixed with fresh curd made of cow’s milk.</p><p><strong>Security arrangement</strong></p><p>The police officials had put barricades on both sides of the route to prevent any untoward incidents. The decorated chariot was pulled. </p><p>The heavy presence of the police and home guards prevented people from breaking the barricades and entering the prohibited area.</p><p>Braving the scorching sun and oppressive weather conditions, the people occupied every space to witness the moment. </p><p>The Prasada Battalu (silver bowl in which saint Sharana Basaveshwar used to have his food) and the Linga Sajjike (the idol of sacred Linga placed in a silver casket that was worn by the saint) were displayed to the devotees, who had thronged the shrine complex.</p><p>Both the eighth Peetadhipathi of the Sharanabasaveshwar Samsthan Sharnbasvappa Appa and his son Chiranjeevi Doddappa Appa, the ninth Peetadhipathi, presided over all the religious rituals before and after the Rathotsava. </p><p><strong>Festive look</strong></p><p>Kalaburagi wore a festive look with festoons tied all around the City. The entire City was transformed into a Dasoha Mahamane with people putting up pandals and special stalls on all roads leading to the shrine and offering free food, water and buttermilk to devotees.</p><p>The ardent devotees of the saint walked miles from their native villages of the neighbouring districts, including Raichur, Vijayapura, Bidar, and bordering districts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to fulfil their wishes and pay their obeisance to the saint.</p><p>The death anniversary of the saint was observed as an auspicious day by the devotees by fasting throughout the day. They also performed poojas and partook, specially prepared dishes, including sweets after the Rathotsava. As part of the Rathotsava, a 10-day-long Jathra was organised in the Jathra Ground in which the traders from different parts of the country exhibited their products and a special enclosure was reserved for the entertainment, fun and frolic for the children.</p>
