The Kittur Utsav, a three-day festival set to commence in Kittur, features a diverse array of cultural and sports events alongside insightful discussion sessions.
The inauguration of the festival, scheduled for Monday, will include cultural presentations, sporting activities, and lectures, with a particular focus on historians who have extensively researched the royal heritage of Kittur.
One notable highlight is an all-woman special session, concentrating on Rani Channamma’s valiant struggle against the British in 1824, a remarkable event that predates the more widely recognized 1857 war of Independence.
Cultural performances are expected to be a major draw, featuring the talents of film music director Hamsalekha and his team on Wednesday night, Sanchit Hegde and team on Monday night, and Shamita Malnad and her team on Tuesday night. Local artists will further enhance the festival with their renditions of songs, dances, plays, and folk art forms throughout the three days.
The event kicks off on Monday morning, with Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Lakshmi Hebbalkar inaugurating the festivities in Kakati, Rani Channamma’s birthplace, and in Kittur, where she reigned. Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi, along with several legislators and leaders, are expected to grace the occasion.
Tuesday will see a series of lectures by renowned speakers, delving into the history of the Kittur dynasty and Rani Channamma’s legacy. The first session will feature resource persons Santosh Hangal, Prajnya Mattihalli, and Basavaraj Chinagudi, inaugurated by Member of Legislative Assembly Babasaheb Patil.
The second session, commencing at 12:30 p.m., will host speakers such as Y.R. Patil, Y.M. Yakolli, Veena Hiremath, Shankar Hambar, and more, who will discuss various topics of historical significance. The women’s session will be inaugurated by Ms. Hebbalkar, featuring speakers like writers Bharati Hegde, Vinoda Angadi, and others.
A range of sports events, including marathons, kabaddi, volleyball, cycling, and wrestling, will be organized as part of the festival. Notably, the marathon will take place at the Rani Channamma Circle on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., while the wrestling matches will be held on KEB Grounds on the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Nitesh Patil, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the utsav committee, affirmed that thorough preparations have been made for the festival, with the State government allocating ₹2 crore for its success.
