Bengaluru: Kadalekai Parishe — one of Bengaluru’s oldest and most cherished folk festivals — will be a five-day festival starting Nov 15. The iconic groundnut fair at Basavanagudi in south Bengaluru will be officially extended from two to five days though official events will be held on Nov 17 and 18 at Basavanna temple.Muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy on Thursday held a meeting with all stakeholders to plan for the extended festivities. “All these years, it was unofficially held for 4-5 days, aligning with weekend or holidays. However, this year, we have decided to hold the festival officially for five days,” the minister said.Unlike the traditional inauguration involving the lighting of lamps, the department has decided to inaugurate by offering puja to 20 bullocks this year.As in the previous editions, the muzrai department and Greater Bengaluru Authority officials have decided not to collect tax from roadside groundnut vendors and small-time traders. All other attractions, including food courts and amusement parks, will be auctioned to the highest bidders.“Previously, a few used to bid for shops by paying nominal fees, and later they would sublease it to collect daily rent ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 a day. The govt has made it free,” explained an official.Kadalekai Parishe coincides with the conclusion of the auspicious Karthika month, marking a symbolic celebration where farmers from across Karnataka and neighbouring states offer their first harvest of groundnuts (Kadalekai) to Basavanna (Nandi), believed to protect their crops.Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya said, “This year, too, we have resolved to enforce a strict ban on plastic during the fair. In 2024, the festival drew around 5 lakh visitors and was hailed as the first-ever plastic-free parishe. We will be building on that success. There will be elaborate lighting decorations on Bull Temple Road, NR Road, KR Road, VV Puram, Gandhi Bazaar, and adjoining areas. There will be a boat (raft) festival on Nov 17.“Greater Bengaluru Authority, Bengaluru West city corporation, Bescom, city police, and traffic police have been directed to prioritise sanitation, safety, and crowd management. Arrangements for continuous power supply, clean drinking water, public toilets, CCTV cameras, streetlight repairs, and fire and emergency services have also been planned. Additional marshals and police personnel will be deployed to maintain order and assist visitors.
