Going nuts: A hungry bull and a 450-year legacy
Satyanarayana has always lived in Basavanagudi and the Kadlekai Parishe brings back many memories, going back to when he was a child himself.
Voices raised in songs of devotion as crowds throng to seek the blessings of Nandi and Lord Shiva, the steady hum of customers haggling, as far as the eye can see, an ocean of brown – groundnuts, laid out along the streets. This is Basavanagudi in November. Former mayor and current corporator in Basavanagudi, B.S. Satyanarana, shares a special bond with the old tradition. He tells Vishaka V. Warrier about the Kadlekai Parishe which will take place on Nov. 25 and 26.
The man with the proverbial ‘100-watt smile’ and down-to-earth manner, is well-versed with the history of his locality. Basava is another term for ‘Nandi’, or bull. How did this locality in Bengaluru come to be named after him? “That goes back to Kempegowda’s time,” says Satyanarayana. “Groundnuts were grown here but the farmers found, to their disappointment, that their crop was being consumed in the nights by a bull.” The bull, or the Basava, is believed to be the gatekeeper of Kailasha, the abode of Lord Shiva. “They decided to appeal to Lord Shiva, to stop this bull from ravaging their livelihoods. So, they offered their produce to the Nandi first before it was given for human consumption. Kempegowda, who is known as the founder of Bengaluru, took it upon himself to construct a temple, dedicated to Lord Basava. The fourth Monday of Kaarthika Maasa was devoted to the farmers making their offering. That’s how the locality around the temple became Basavanagudi (temple of Lord Basava). Since it became a sort of meeting point for farmers, Kempegowda conceptualised a festival, the Kadklekai Parishe.”
Satyanarayana has always lived in Basavanagudi and the Kadlekai Parishe brings back many memories, going back to when he was a child himself. “I remember farmers arriving in vehicles to offer their produce and participating in the fair,” he smiles. Groundnuts were diligently purchased and fried or boiled back home. “I’m unable to enjoy the fair now,” he says, somewhat sadly, “My responsibilities as a corporator means I have a checklist of things that need to be attended to! Earlier, I was free to roam around and enjoy the jaathre!”
Bengaluru’s commercialisation has cast its spell on the Parishe, says Satyanarayana. Today, instead of sitting in a vast open space, the Parishe zigzags its way around the buildings. Culture is always changing, as are notions of entertainment and the Parishe has expanded also, with games, petting zoos and even circus performances to keep customers entertained. The BJP government in 2008, he says, “turned the festival into a cultural extravaganza, where dance, music and folk art are performed by residents and professionals. These happen in Basavanagudi’s parks.” Today, there are also more vendors than farmers.
“Basavanagudi was surrounded by villages that cultivated groundnuts. So back then, the festival was anchored by the farmers themselves. However, since this is no longer agricultural land, farmers have moved to the outskirts of the city,” he explains. There are also many more varieties being sold today, as vendors stock different produce. “Some buy their groundnuts from K.R. Market, others visit farmers in the nearby villages. There are still farmers who come in person, from places like Magadi, Anekal and Dodballapur, who represent their community in person even today.”
A few lakh visitors arrive each year, as well as the 2000-odd vendors participating in the fair. Basavanagudi has become an “adda for foodies, lovers of performing arts and of course, the devotees, seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.” It’s a high-security event, with around 500 police officials of various ranks and from the Home Guards appointed for the two-day festival. BMS Hospital, which is in the area, has been well-equipped in case there is a medical emergency of any kind. Drinking water is provided by BWSSB, while the BBMP and Muzrai departments are at the forefront of the festival’s organisation. “It’s the result of a collaborative force.”
To set the tone for the fair following official delegation of duties, he said, “Preparing Basavanagudi is the first task. Every year, we begin with three clean-up drives. One on Friday, then a day before the fair and of course, one the day after the fair comes to an end.” This year, the platform of the festival is also used to provide awareness about the use of plastic and waste segregation. In the context, he said, “Our celebrations shouldn’t cause harm to the environment.”
His approach to the fair goes beyond the discharging his official duties. Mr. Satyanarayana says, “Fairs like Kadlekai Parishe are platform for upholding the culture of our land. With the city becoming a multi-cultural site, we have to take pride in not only exhibiting our culture, but also share the stories of our land to the foster generation and people from other cultures.”
Taking inspiration from the iconic Kadlekai Parishe in Basavanagudi, chapters of the same have emerged in Malleshwaram and Yelahanka. Speaking in this regard, he said “The traffic woes in the city have made it difficult for people to make it to the fair. Therefore, this is a good initiative.”