A statue of Durga in its final stages, in Belagavi
Belagavi : Preparations are in full swing across Belagavi district for the nine-day Navratri festival beginning on Oct 11 with Ghatasthapana. First organised in 1926-27, it is among North Karnataka’s oldest cultural celebrations. Belagavi city alone has more than 90 Navratri mandals, with hundreds of idols expected to be installed.
Durga Mata Daud, popular in Maharashtra, was introduced in Belagavi about a decade ago. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Superintendent of police Ramarajan said the process of granting permission for Durga Mata Daud events has begun. Organisers are making elaborate arrangements to install Goddess Durga idols across the city and district, on the lines of Ganeshotsav celebrations. Dandiya and Garba events remain major attractions, particularly among youngsters. Traditional Durga Mata Daud events and the historic Nada Habba Utsav, celebrating Kannada literature, art and heritage, will also be held during the festival. Ghatasthapana is a sacred ritual marking the beginning of Navratri and invokes the divine presence of Goddess Durga. Over the years, the festival has undergone several changes, with public installation of Durga idols gradually gaining popularity across Belagavi district. Durga idol installations and Durga Mata Daud, relatively unknown in Belagavi a decade ago, have now become prominent features. The tradition of public Durga idol installations was initiated locally by workers from West Bengal employed at the Hindalco factory. It gradually spread to the Camp area and later to other parts of Belagavi. The Nada Habba Utsav Samiti will organise a nine-day programme celebrating Kannada language, art and heritage in the border region. Artists across Belagavi district are busy making Durga idols. Elaborate lighting and high-tech sound systems are being arranged at Dandiya and Garba venues. Markets are witnessing a festive rush, with sales of traditional dresses, costumes, jewellery and decorative items picking up. Devotees also throng prominent Shakti centres in the district, including Savadatti Yallamma, Kakkeri Bishtadevi and Chinchali Mayakka. Special security arrangements are being made at temples that attract large numbers of women devotees. Download the TOI App.