Tens of thousands of devotees arrived from different parts of the State for the Sharanabasaveshwara Jatra Mahotsava - an annual car festival - celebrated to commemorate the 202nd death anniversary of the 18th-century saint and social reformer Sharanabasaveshwara in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
People from across the State, cutting across communal lines, converged at the sprawling temple complex to witness the historic car festival and the ascension of the holy order (Peetharohana) of the eighth peethadhipati of Sharanabasaveshwara Samsthan Dr. Sharnbasavappa Appa.
The devotees pulled the decorated temple car around the temple complex, soon after Dr. Appa and his son and ninth peetadhipathi Doddappa Appa, displayed the holy silver bowl (Prasada battalu) and the Linga Sajjike (the cover used for keeping the Linga) made up of Sandalwood and used by Sharanabasaveshwara, and blew the conch to signal the devotees to pull the Ratha signaling the beginning of the annual car festival and the fortnight long annual fair. The devotees flung bananas tied with dry dates at the temple car.
