Get ready for a spectacular celebration! The State government is all set to host the much-anticipated Kittur Utsav in Belagavi district, commencing on October 23rd.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi confirmed on Monday that the district administration plans to seek a generous grant of ₹5 crore from the State government to ensure the festival’s success.
During a recent preparatory meeting, Minister Jarkiholi shared his vision, stating, ‘We are committed to organizing this utsav in a truly meaningful way, striving to make it a benchmark for future festivals. Our efforts will focus on empowering local talent, enhancing Kittur’s historical monuments, illuminating the area with festive lights, maintaining the bridge, and upgrading the bus stand facilities.’
Addressing an assembly of elected representatives, officials, and local residents, he elaborated on program modifications. ‘We’ve revamped the schedule to offer more opportunities to emerging writers and local artists,’ he explained. Acknowledging past organizational shortcomings, he added, ‘We’re learning from previous errors and are determined to address all issues, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable event. We earnestly request the support of everyone across the State to make this festival a grand success.’
Kittur MLA Babasaheb Patil announced that new books and informational manuals detailing Kittur’s rich history will be unveiled during the utsav.
Patil also mentioned that suggestions for changes to the inaugural day’s procession are under review. He assured that a significant number of students would be invited to attend the educational programs planned.
Furthermore, the festival will feature an increased participation of local artists. To facilitate easy access for attendees, NWKRTC will operate additional buses to Kittur. Various dedicated committees have already been established to meticulously organize every aspect of the event, he confirmed.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan highlighted the growing popularity of the festival, noting that over four lakh visitors graced Kittur Utsav last year. He also revealed the government’s plans to acquire Rani Channamma’s ancestral home in Kakati, with aspirations to transform it into a significant tourist destination.
During the meeting, several organizing committee members put forth valuable recommendations. They suggested expanding the celebration to a State-wide event, including taking the revered Veera Jyoti procession to other districts. Furthermore, they urged improvements in infrastructure, specifically calling for enhanced cleanliness, beautification efforts, consistent drinking water and power supply, and the installation of CCTV cameras for safety.
Concerns were also raised regarding the timely payment of contractors’ bills from the previous year. Another key request was for the government to arrange transportation for schoolchildren to attend the festival.
A local senior citizen voiced a long-standing issue, pointing out that despite the new Kittur taluk being declared years ago, many essential taluk-level offices have yet to relocate from Bailhongal. He passionately requested the immediate transfer of these crucial public offices to Kittur.
A special moment at the meeting saw Minister Satish Jarkiholi and other dignitaries proudly release ‘Namma Chitta Shatakadatta,’ a handbook designed to assist SSLC students.
The preparatory meeting saw the esteemed presence of Sri Raja Yogindtha Mahaswamy of Kittur Kalmath, Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S.Guled, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shindhe, Assistant Commissioner Praveen Jain, Tahsildar Kalagouda Patil, Kannada and Culture Department Joint Director K.H. Channur, and Deputy Director of Kannada and Culture Vidyavathi Bhajantri, among other prominent personalities.