People
of the village of Vithappa in Karnataka hold the Sri Vithappa fair in
honor of the eponymous deity of the village. The fair, which is held for
three days immediately after the traditional festival of Shigi Hunnive,
attracts a large congregation of devotees from adjoining areas. As per the religious observations, a procession is taken out with devotees carrying the holy deity in a palanquin. The procession is accompanied by about 60 parties of drummers assembled from different parts of the state. Devotees offer animal sacrifices to appease the deity of Vithappa. The Pujari sells them and the amount realized is credited to the temple funds.
A number of religious beliefs are associated with the Sri Vithappa fair. Devotees regard it a good portent if the milk brought by them gets converted into curds before offering it to the deity. This fair, which is being conducted for the last 200 years, usually falls on the 14th and 15th day of the month Aswija.
