Shree Siddeshwar Jatre

The Shree Siddeshwar fair, also known as Siddwshwar Jatre, takes place on the last Monday of Hindus' auspicious month of Shraavan.

On each day of this Shraavan maas-Month at Bilgi, a group of people perform Nagar Sankeertane and Bhajana in the early morning hours. They leave from the Shree Siddeshwar temple, travel across all of Bilgi, and return to the temple around six in the morning.

The Shree Siddeshwar temple is frequently visited by Bilgi residents, especially during this month. Every Monday is also unique since Shiva is believed by Hindus to be associated with this day. 

Because the last Monday of the Shravan Month is considered auspicious, a special Pooja is performed to Shree Siddeshwar and a fair or Jatre is held on this day. Morning Sankeertane will be present on this day. People also come to the temple to pray and perform Pooja for Shree Siddeshwar. The Kalasa of Shree Siddeshwar will be carried in procession through the streets of Bilgi beginning in the morning. When Kalasa appears in front of people's homes, they decorate it with flowers, garland and perform pooja.

Some pictures of Kalasa:

After the Kalasa procession returns to Shree Siddeshawar temple in the evening, a Rathostava-chariot will pull out in front of the temple. A large crowd is expected. More than 25,000 to 30,000 people gather to watch and pull this chariot. Ratha or Chariot is festooned with flowers and flags. Some images and videos of the Rathostava as below:

Some more videos and images of Jatre- Fair:

There will be numerous stalls, hotels, toy stores, snack shops, and so on. People go to the fair with their families and friends to watch the Rastostav from the hills. They all eat snacks, visit the stalls, and play with the toys. People throw dry dates on the Chariot while Ratostav is going on. There are a lot of processions going on. It's an electrifying atmosphere throughout the town.. 

After this day, the kalasa will return to its original location with a large procession and fireworks.

On this Jatre- Fair occasion, they organise a variety of sports, plays, and other events throughout the town.  Temple and the town is decorated with lof lightings, flowers etc 

Some more images and videos:

Muharram in Bilgi

Muḥarram (Arabic: ٱلْمُحَرَّم) (fully known as Muharram ul Haram)(/muːˈhɑːrəm/) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

The tenth day of Muharram is known as Ashura. Better known as part of the Mourning of Muharram, Shi'a Muslims mourn the tragedy of Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī's family.

In Bilgi, Muharram is a sign of harmony and peace between Hindus and Muslims. The majority of Hindus take part in this festival. 

There are different Gods situated in differernt streets of Bilgi

   1. Hussain Peer and Hussian Peer lalsaab

   2. Patte Saab and Patte lalsaab

   3. Isbin Devar and Akshara Panja

   4. Baba Saheb

   5. Chote Lalsaab 

   5.  Baare mama 

One day before Ashura day, in the evening people go to these mosques or temples and distribute Sugar. They go with all the family in a procession to distribute the Sugar. Its not the normal Sugar, its called as lump Sugar or mudde sakkare

On the Ashura day, Morning 1.30am, they pull Benki Gida, that's Fire Tree, You can see below video how it looks:

Morning and evening of the ashura day, these gods will go to the devotees houses, markets, temples etc. And at the End of the day they go to river i.e arettina bhavi.

Some of the beautiful snaps and images of Muharram of Bilgi

Durgamma Temple

On top of the hill in Bilgi is the Durgamma Temple. If we climb the hill rock eastward from Sri Siddeshwar temple, we come to Durga Devi temple.

Two temples on the hill can be seen from anywhere in Bilgi. And Durga Devi, also known as Durgamma by Bilgi people, is the presiding deity of these temples. Durgavvana Gudda or Durgammana Gudda is the name of the hill on which these temples are situated. No one is certain who built these temples, but it could have been the Bilgi Ghorpades, who ruled Bilgi and were Samanths of Jamkhandi Samstana.

Avva, which means mother in North Karnataka, is used to refer to Durgadevi as Durgavva or Durgamma. Durgadevi is a form of Goddess Parvati. And is the Goddess of Power, courage, and strength. Durgadevi is a powerful Goddess.

The deity depicts the goddess Durgadevi sitting on a lion and holding various weapons in each hand. The pictures below are visible.

You can see how these temples look on the hill:

In order to reach this place, one has to climb the hill. Nowadays, they are trying to make the steps. But this is not yet ready. Hill way is a steep flight of steps.  

On the occasion of Durgastami during Navaratri, all Bilgi people visit this temple and offer Pooja here.