Bangalore's Traditional Groundnut Fair ‘Kadlekai Parshe’

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Bangalore's traditional groundnut fair (Kadlekai Parshe), is an annual affair that takes place in the Bull Temple Road, near Ramakrishna Ashram, in Gandhi Bazar, Basavanagudi.

History

In earlier days, groundnuts were cultivated in Basavangudi and the surrounding areas.

According to the legend, on every full moon day, as it would have it strangely, a bull used to charge into the groundnut fields, destroying the crops. The farmers then sought refuge in Lord Basava (Nandi or bull) to safeguard their crops. They vowed to offer their first crop of groundnuts to Lord Basava.

Subsequently, an idol of Basava was also found in the vicinity. It is believed that the idol of Basava started growing and the farmers nailed an iron peg on the head of the Nandi which is even visible today, in the form of a trishul. Later a temple was dedicated to Dodda Basava atop the Basavanagudi hillock. To this day people flock on the day of the fair with their annual crop, to be offered to Lord Basava.

The Fair

Bangalore's traditional groundnut fair, Kadlekai Parshe, makes a beginning on the last Monday of Karthika month (Karthika Somavara), which is called Chike Parshe (Small fair), followed by the Dodda Parshe (the big fair ) for the next two days. Numerous stalls not less than five hundred, trail the pavement along the Ramakrishna ashram in Bull temple road. Apart from the groundnut stalls, numerous other stalls that sell bangles, trinkets, plastic and glass dolls etc also find place in the fair.

Mouth watering bajji, bonda ,Batthaas (Coloured sugar candies), Kalyana seve or Bendu (Sugar coated gram), coloured sodas etc treat the taste buds as people make candid strolls.

The major attraction of the fair was the special decoration of the idol of Dodda Basavanna.

Kadlekai Parshe, the groundnut fair, is a sight worth seeing, transporting the Bull temple road of Bangalore to the traditional days.