BELAGAVI: Thousands of devotees, not only from Karnataka but also from Maharashtra and Goa are participating in the Pant Balekundri fair which commenced at Pant Balekundri village in Belagavi taluk on Friday. The main procession was taken out and special poojas were performed on Saturday.
The procession of the idol of Pant Balekundri had started at the Pant Balekundri Palace in Belagavi city on Friday morning. The devotees in the procession walked from the city to Pant Balekundri village covering a distance of 15 km reaching there in the evening. On Saturday morning, a huge procession was taken out from the Pant Balekundri Palace to the main Pant Balekundri temple. More than 50 teams of devotees participated in the processions. They played traditional musical instruments and danced during the procession.
Special prayers and rituals were performed at the end of the procession. Bhajans and keertans were sung by the devotees all the day.
Interestingly, about 75 per cent of the population of Pant Balekundri village are Muslims and they are active participants of the fair. Several of Muslim devotees including women were seen participating in the
procession and singing bhajans. There is no caste and religion barrier in the fair.
Maha Prasadam will be held on Sunday.