Dharwad Jamboo Savari draws huge crowds

Roopavathi carrying the ceremonial howdah as part of the Navaratri celebrations in Dharwad on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The 22nd Dharwad Dasara Jamboo Savari procession, featuring an elephant carrying the ceremonial howdah and traditional folk troupes as part of the Navaratri celebrations, drew huge crowds on Monday.Roopavathi, the elephant carrying the howdah, led the procession from the Bandemma Temple towards the Eshwar Temple in Gandhinagar after the goddess and the howdah were worshipped at the temple with Sri Shivayogi Rajayogendra Swami of Kodimath performing the rituals. A large number of people participated in the 22nd Dharwad Dasara Jamboo Savari procession on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT More than 22 cultural troupes took part in the procession, presenting traditional performances, including karadi majalu, dollu, jhanj and jaggalige.A devotional group comprising more than 500 participants and 108 women carrying kalashas added to the spectacle as the procession moved through Toll Naka, Hosa Yallapur and Subhas Road towards Kadapa Maidan.Noted Hindustani vocalist M. Venkatesh Kumar inaugurated the festival’s formal programme with a musical offering. He expressed happiness at being invited to inaugurate the event saying that music is his way of expressing devotion to the goddess.Gurusiddha Rajayogendra Swami of Moorusavirmath commended the organisers, led by Dasara Jamboo Savari Utsav Samiti president Gururaj Hunasimarad, for sustaining the celebrations for 22 years through collective efforts.He urged the State government to support such cultural events in North Karnataka and expressed the hope that the festival’s silver jubilee will be celebrated on a grand scale in two years.Fakira Dingaleshwar Mahaswami of the Bhavaikyata Mahasansthana Math in Shirahatti also called for government support for festivals in North Karnataka.Shivananda Rajayogendra Mahaswami of Kodimath flagged off the procession and blessed the people with wishes for good rainfall and a bountiful harvest.The procession, however, could not conclude at its intended destination, Kadapa Maidan, as the ground was found locked. The development angered artistes and members of the public, following which the procession moved into the Dharwad Municipal Corporation premises and concluded there.The programme was presided over by Gururaj Hunasimarad. RSS pranth pracharak Shridhar Nadiger, religious leaders, educationists, doctors and social workers were present. Published - October 21, 2026 06:59 pm IST