Kushtagi

Time: Mar 4-6 2011 

Place: Kustagi 

Company: Maternal Uncle 

Highlights: 

 Day 0: Left in 2215 hrs Rajahamsa bus to Muddebihal. 

 Day 1: Reached Kushtagi at 0800 hrs. Walked to Adavi Temple where the Saptaaha celebrations for 2011 had just started. Very much country life. No air or noise pollution. Freshness of life all around. Had bath in a pond after a long time. Attended a series of Pravachans (religious discourses) which were very well presented in flawless Kannada. It is a pleasure to see the knowledge one has on the story and the control in narration given in in-depth Kannada. Had lunch, siesta and saw the opening ceremony in the evening and left to Bangalore at 8 pm. Took the bus to Hospet and the Airavath to Bangalore. 

 Day 2: Reached Bangalore at 5.30 am and home at 6.15 am. Nice lazy Sunday thereafter. 

Summary: Saptaaha is a 7 day celebration to Sri Raghavendra Swamy that is conducted in the Feb-Mar period in various parts of the country every year. The 1st day denotes the the day Venkatanaatha assumed pontiff role and became Raghavendra Swamy and the 7th day denotes his birthday. I wanted to visit at least one day of a Saptaaha celebration since a long time and finally the wish got fulfilled on March 5th 2011 in Kushtagi.