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. 

Maal Gambha - ಮಾಲಗಂಬ

Maal Gambha - ಮಾಲಗಂಬ: is a famous place in Bilagi town. From Sri siddeshawar temple, if we climb the hillock towards the north we find Maal Gamba. 

Along with Maal Gamba,  a police wireless station and the tomb of Baba Saab can be found there. Maal Gambha is a long rock poll on top of the hill. It is for lighting the lamp. They put deepa or pranati i.e fire on it on auspicious occasions. This lit lamp is visible to the whole town and also from a very long distance. They say it's visible from Golgummaj of Vijayapura. 

Soon after the marriage, the couple or a boy has to light the lamp on the top of Maalgaamba with oil and cotton grains. It is also said that the light of this lamp is visible when it is viewed from Golgummaj of Vijayapura.

Earlier there was no road to Maalgamba. One has to go through the Hill and forest. Nowadays they made a small road to maalgambha from Shree Siddeshwar Temple. On the way to maalgambha, you can see MelaSiddappa temple. And from this you can see a very nice and awesome view of hillock and Bilgi town.

MaalGambha on the hill 

MaalGambha on the hill 

Wireless Station

Way to MaalGambha

Lit MaalGambha

Way to MaalGambha

MelaSiddappa Temple