” It’s a high-security event, with around 500 police officials of various ranks and from the Home Guards appointed for the two-day festival. Culture is always changing, as are notions of entertainment and the Parishe has expanded also, with games, petting zoos and even circus performances to keep customers entertained. Every year, we begin with three clean-up drives. How did this locality in Bengaluru come to be named after him? “That goes back to Kempegowda’s time,” says Satyanarayana.”A few lakh visitors arrive each year, as well as the 2000-odd vendors participating in the fair.”His approach to the fair goes beyond the discharging his official duties.
That’s how the locality around the temple became Basavanagudi (temple of Lord Basava).” Today, there are also more vendors than farmers.”To set the tone for the fair following official delegation of duties, he said, “Preparing Basavanagudi is the first task.Voices raised in songs of devotion as crowds throng to seek the blessings of Nandi and Lord Shiva, the steady hum of customers haggling, as far as the eye can see, an ocean of brown – groundnuts, laid out along the streets.The man with the proverbial ‘100-watt smile’ and down-to-earth manner, is well-versed with the history of his locality. “It’s the result of a collaborative force. These happen in Basavanagudi’s parks. Since it became a sort of meeting point for farmers, Kempegowda conceptualised a festival, the Kadklekai Parishe. “Some buy their groundnuts from K. Market, others visit farmers in the nearby villages. Kempegowda, who is known as the founder of Bengaluru, took it upon himself to construct a temple, dedicated to Lord Basava.
