300 years celebrations: This villagers celebrate the festival of light in a different way

 Most of us celebrate Deepavali, the festival of light, by bursting crackers. But, the villagers of Periyapatna Taluk have been celebrating the festival in a different way. A tradition that date back to more than three centuries is being still followed during every Deepavali festival by the villagers of Bettadapura in Periyapatna taluk.

The people of several villages come together on the day of 'Balipadyami', and take out procession of Lord Sidilumallikarjuna Swamy, the presiding deity of Bettadapura. The temple has constructed during the period of cholas and has a history of 800 years. Whereas, the celebration of the festival has started during Changalwaru regine. One has to climb more than 3650 steps to reach the hill. From the past five years not finding a priest who can climb the hill daily, a young priest has been assigned to open the temple on Mondays and Fridays atop the hill and offer pujas. On the remaining days, people can offer puja at another temple located at foothills of hill.

The jatha begins on the Amavase day. About 20 people climb the steps on Amavase Day carrying torch and return to the foothills on wee hours of Balipadyami Day. Later, thousands of villagers join them a take out the torch procession, accompanied with the folk art troupes. On the way, Green Mantaps are erected. During the procession deity will be stopped at each mantaps and those have erected the mantaps will offer puja and consume food only after the procession passes from their village.

The procession is called as 'Deevatige Meravanige' (torch light procession). According to the rituals, thousands of people go around Bettadapura hill on foot, on the day of Balipadyami holding torch. The Man folk carry the torch and take procession of the deity Sidilumallikarjuna Swamy. The procession passes through the villages Basaveshwara Colony, Marnomithoppu, Kavluhadigudi, Bettadatunga, Devarathotta, Kudkoru, Barsekoppalu, and reach the Bettadapura foothills temple covering a distance of 12 kilo meters.

Two Pallaki's will be taken on procession, one of Silver Nandi and the other comprising of deities Lord Eshwara, Parvathi, Ganpathi. The Utsava Pallaki will be carried by the people of respective villagers as it reaches their place.

“The festival will be celebrated very grandly with religious fervour. People from across State visit our village during the day and take part in the rituals. Sometimes, the procession which starts around 5 am, return late in the evening after 18 hours. Till that villagers will not sleep, and will remain fasting,” says Sharada, villager of Beetadapura.

According to the temple priest Anantha Ramaiah, “There is a belief among people that by visiting the temple their wishes will come true. Earlier, we were climbing the steps and were offering prayers. Now from last several years, we offer puja at the temple located at foothills of the Beetadapura. The significance of holding torch is seeking god to shower prosperity. Also there is a strong belief among the people that their wishes will be fulfilled by visiting the temple and carrying the torch.”

BV Manjunath, resident of Bettadapura said: “A special Devattige Kolu and Yennekayi is used to lit the torch. The oil can helps the torch to lit for long time. The festival is celebrated with religious fervour and people from across state come to our village on the day to offer Harike and celebrate the festival.”