A hero stone at Yadawad depicts Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj seated on a horse, accompanied by a soldier and his beloved dog, Waghya. The lower panel shows Shivaji holding Nagabhushana, son of Belawadi Mallamma, on his lap and feeding him milk
At the heart of the celebrations is a 348-year-old hero stone (Veeragallu), believed to mark an agreement forged after a battle between the forces of Shivaji and Mallamma in 1678.
Shivaji is also said to have assured Mallamma that his forces would protect the Belawadi principality from future attacks. Researcher Dr Balappa Chinagudi has documented that the stone was erected following the battle fought near the Yadawad-Shibaragatti border, said event organiser Narasappa Bhattangi. Historical accounts suggest that instead of continuing hostilities, the two leaders chose to regard each other as brother and sister, paving the way for peace. The hero stone, installed at Yadawad, is believed to have been commissioned by Tarabai, Shivaji Maharaj’s daughter-in-law. It features carvings of Shivaji, Mallamma and her son Nagabhushana , and is regarded by some historians as the earliest sculptural depiction of Shivaji in the country.
Dharwad: A little-known episode from the shared history of Karnataka and Maharashtra will come alive at Yadawad village in Dharwad taluk on November 11, when residents host ‘Anna-Thangi Habba’ (Brother-Sister Festival) to commemorate the unique bond between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Belawadi Mallamma. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. As part of the celebrations, processions carrying statues of Shivaji Maharaj and Belawadi Mallamma will converge at Yadawad before moving through the village. In a symbolic gesture, descendants of Mallamma will tie a traditional kankana to Shivaji’s descendants, reaffirming the centuries-old brother-sister bond. Villagers believe the initiative could help establish Yadawad as an important historical destination and bring wider recognition to its unique heritage. Download the TOI App.
The event will bring together descendants of several royal families connected to the historic episode. Among those expected to attend are Nagaraj Desai and members of the Chachadi and Vishwanath Patil families, who trace their lineage to Belawadi Mallamma, along with Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj. Descendants of Kittur Rani Chennamma, Keladi Chennamma and Shivaji’s commander Hambirrao Mohite are also expected. Organisers hope the programme will highlight a forgotten historical legacy while strengthening cultural ties between Karnataka and Maharashtra amid recurring language and border-related tensions.