Despite its transformation to modernism, Bangalore retains the glory and charm of the times of Kempe Gowda. Kadlekai Parishe (groundnut fair), a tradition followed for more than five millennia by Kannadigas and the migrants who embraced the culture, still creates magic. |
Plastic-free initiative
Attempts are being made to make the festival plastic free. A community initiative - Samanwitha - has come forward to make this happen. The initiative is supported by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. The initiative has started the process of stocking paper bags for the coming year.
"We have put almost 20 banners asking people to bring their own bags and avoid the purchase of plastic bags," said Radhakrishnan KU, secretary, Samanwitha.
"This is just abeginning. It is not practical to have a plastic-free fair in a month. This year, we are spreading the awareness on the importance of making Kadlekai Parishe plastic free. We will be talking to the vendors and others on the issue," he said.
According the chief priest, there were three kinds of people who came to these festivals:devotees, vendors and those who come to have fun. The third category consisted mostly children and for them a small amusement park has been created next to the temple. "At the end of the end of the day, it is after all a celebration of the good harvest. So there are programmes even for the children," he said.
Space constraint is considered to be a problem by the organisers of this fair. As the number of vendors is increasing, the organisers are finding it difficult to find space to accommodate them. They had no space left to allocate and this problem will grow in the coming years. |
