Everyone knows about the head shaving ritual in India . It is offered as a religious devotion by mostly Hindu’s in various temples and  during some  festivals, fairs as well. Third day in Siddappaji fair, called as ‘mudi seve ‘  witnesses thousands of visiting devotees  offering their hair to god  and sometimes for the  fulfillment of their wish .

Called as biggest fair in Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka , Siddappaji fair in Chikkallur  is also one of the very oldest fairs of Karnataka. This Jatra  is held in the name of saint Siddappaji who was the disciple of the revolutionist saint Manteswami who lived in 15th century ( debated). First day is called ” Chandramandalotsava ” a ritual which will forecast about the crop and rainfall of the year. Second day is ” daddavara seve”  and third day is ” Mudiseve” . Fourth and Fifth day is called ” Pankthi seve” and ” Muthurayana seve ” . All these five days have their own significance and celebrated in different ways . Neelagaras , the singer families  who kept the greatest oral folk epic of Karantaka, Manteswami Mahakavya alive , would  gather in this fair and sing in the folk songs for many days during the celebrations .

During the fair people camp here with  along with their family and relative ,offer their hair on third day , do the pooja, eat together, listen to the Manteswami folk songs and return .

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the Bullock in temple

Farmer’s best friend is  bullock and you can see the love for their cattle in Chamarajanagar on many occasions. People name their bullock and treat them as family member . In any fair there is a definite role for a bullock. There is a bullock in the old Basava temple where the people who offered their hair seek blessings from the bullock.