‘Kadalekai Parishe’ literally means ‘Groundnut Festival’. It is an annual groundnut fair held every year near the Dodda Ganapati Temple, also known as Big Bull Temple in Basavanagudi Bangalore.
In the past, the farms that cultivated groundnut in the nearby villages around Basavanagudi were being destroyed by the bulls. So, people from the surrounding villages prayed to Nandi (Basava/ Bull) to put an end to this and pledged their first crops in return.
Then, an idol of Lord Basava was found nearby, which is believed kept growing rapidly. The farmers then nailed an iron peg on Basava’s head which can now be seen as a ‘Trishula’. It is believed that after the festival, Lord Basava eats the groundnuts and leaves the peels overnight, on the streets.
After the idol was found, in the year 1537, Kempe Gowda, dedicated the temple to Dodda Basava (Big Bull) on top of Basavanagudi hillock and installed the idol. The temple is popularly known as the Big Bull Temple.
Thereafter, the farmers from surrounding villages come here every year and offer their annual harvest of groundnut as offering to Lord Basava. This we now call as ‘Kadalekai Parishe’. Various kinds of groundnuts are sold here. Raw, boiled, salted, spiced, roasted!
No festival is complete without balloons, toys and colorful lights. Frizzy toys, twinkling balloons, handmade bags, wooden toys and much more. The roads are brilliantly decorated with beautiful lights and colors, the dazzling display of decoration with some music makes the evening a worth visiting one.
The kids will also not be bored around this place, there is a park for kids to go and play. It looks like an amusement park with all the rides to take. There would be a roller coaster, giant wheel and many more.
One has to definitely take a look at this fair. With beautifully decorated Temples, roads and cafes around, this place is a must visit. You could also take small souvenirs to give it to your friends and family and help the small vendors make business.
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