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New Delhi: Bengaluru is all ready to host one-of-a-kind traditional Bandidevara Utsava, a three-day cultural festival hosting a variety of traditional cultural performances and art to educate and raise awareness the people about its roots and also indulge in the culture and traditions of its rich agricultural heritage. The festival marks the beginning from June 25 to June 27, 2025, at Basavanagudi. The three-day festival marks a significant cultural and religious festival for the agricultural community of South Karnataka, during the birth anniversary of Bengaluru’s founding father, Kempegowda.

The three-day festival promises to bring together people from diverse communities to celebrate their shared history, traditions, and devotion, while also highlighting the region’s rich agricultural heritage. The festival marks the beginning from June 25 to June 27, 2025, at Basavanagudi. The three-day festival marks a significant cultural and religious festival for the agricultural community of South Karnataka, during the birth anniversary of Bengaluru’s founding father, Kempegowda.

History of Bandidevara Utsava

The festival traces its roots to the ancient rituals performed by the ancestors of the Kempegowda, specifically Ranabhairagowda, who, along with his family, journeyed from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka. This journey, undertaken to escape danger, was marked by their reverence for the Bandis—sacred deities that played a pivotal role in saving their lives. Today, the festival serves as a poignant reminder of that heritage, with farming families coming together to honour their roots and the deities that guided their ancestors.

Awout Bandidevara utsava 2025

The celebration will begin on June 25 at 9:00 AM with a special prayer ceremony at Basavanagudi, followed by a ceremonial procession to the Vokkaliga Sangha premises in Chamrajpet. Here, women of the community will perform the traditional Kumkum and Akshata rituals, filling pots with water and preparing sweets. This event, carried out with great joy and enthusiasm, will also feature competitive games for women, alongside storytelling and presentations on traditional scriptures.

Utsav highlights on Day 2

The highlight of the festival will take place on the evening of June 26, when twelve intricately decorated ‘Bandis’ (carts) will be paraded through the heart of the city. The procession will commence at 7:00 PM from the BBMP premises, passing through key landmarks such as Hudson Circle, Cubbon Park, and the High Court building. The procession will culminate at the statue of Kempegowda in front of the Vidhana Soudha at 8:00 PM, where a ceremonial arati will be offered, followed by the distribution of sweets. This spectacular parade will also feature rural folk performances and traditional dance troupes, adding to the vibrancy of the celebrations.

Day-3 highlights

On June 27, the final day of the Bandidevara Utsava, communities across Karnataka will join in the celebration of Kempegowda’s birth anniversary. This day will also emphasise unity and togetherness, with farming families preparing meals for their relatives and neighbours, symbolising the brotherhood that defines the region.

This three-day festival offers a powerful reminder of Karnataka’s rich cultural history and the significant contributions of its farming communities. Through traditional rituals, community gatherings, and festive parades, the Bandidevara Utsava will not only celebrate a centuries-old tradition but also strengthen the cultural fabric of Bengaluru and the state of Karnataka as a whole.