Ugadi Jatra Mahotsava in Hubballi from tomorrow

Sadguru Siddeshwar Swami Hosamath at Unkal will organise a Ugadi Jatra Mahotsava beginning Thursday with a series of religious, cultural and community programmes scheduled till Ugadi on March 19.

Addressing presspersons in Hubballi on Tuesday, president of the mutt committee and municipal councilor Rajanna Koravi said that the festivities will commence at 5 p.m. on Thursday and conclude on Ugadi (March 19). The event will feature the inauguration of a newly constructed stone temple and installation of a stone idol of Siddappajja as well.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the programme and various Ministers, legislators and seers are expected to participate in it.

Mr. Koravi said that a variety of cultural events, competitions and traditional games will be conducted throughout the festival.

Programmes have been planned for children, women, farmers and the general public. Indigenous games will be organised and winners will be honoured on the same day of the events.

The stone idol of Siddappajja will be taken out in a procession on the thoroughfares of Unkal on March 14, while the idol installation ceremony is scheduled for March 16.

The newly built temple, constructed entirely out of stone, has been designed by sculptor Jayant. The structure is prominently in Dravidian architectural style with influences of Hoysala, Chalukya and Kadamba style and the stone used is Chickballapur’s Adikal Rock (grey and white).

On the concluding day, March 19, a mass marriage programme will be organised at 10.30 a.m. Those interested must register before March 15. They can call Ph: 7411182599 for further details.

Vice-president of the organization Ramanna M. Padmannavar, secretary Gurusidappa C. Bengeri and others were present.