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Centuries-Old Tradition Unites Hindus and Muslims in Joyous Procession
4 Oct
Summary
- Hindus and Muslims jointly participate in Goddess Dyamavva's procession
- Idol resides in Kalakeri for 1.5 years before shifting to Kerawadi
- Villagers offer prayers and pull the chariot together in a display of harmony
On October 5th, 2025, the people of Kalakeri village in Gadag district, India, celebrated a centuries-old tradition of communal harmony by jointly participating in the procession of Goddess Dyamavva's idol as part of the Dasara festivities.
According to the tradition, the idol of the goddess resides in Kalakeri, believed to be the husband's place, for one and a half years before being shifted to Kerawadi in Byadagi taluk, Haveri district, which is considered the maternal home. During the Ugadi festival, the same idol is taken out in a procession in Kerawadi.
The procession in Kalakeri, which began on Thursday evening and concluded on Friday morning, saw both Hindus and Muslims come together to offer prayers, pull the chariot, and engage in various folk performances like dollu kunita and jhanj mela. The villagers, including centenarian Nagamma Doddamani and retired teacher SC Kunchur, emphasized that they have never faced any discrimination and have been a model for communal harmony.
The event was organized by the Sri Gramadevata Committee of Kalakeri, with office bearers Veeranagouda Patil and Ishwar Meti sharing that the procession now uses a chariot instead of manual carrying, taking around 12 hours to cover a distance of just two kilometers.
