At Karnataka’s Davanagere Fair, Women Lead The Way In This Chariot-pulling Event

In the city of Davanagere in Karnataka, one fair recently gained widespread attention. The reason is because here, women played a prominent role in the Chariotsava of Sri Guru Karibasaveshwara Swamy temple in Yaragunte village. This event featured women actively pulling chariots at the Davanagere Fair, which was organised to promote gender equality. Women expressed contentment as they joined in the Mahamangal arati to Lord Kari Basaveshwar and participated in pulling the chariot.

In the past, chariot-pulling ceremonies across India were exclusively carried out by men, with several religious organisations adhering to patriarchal traditions. While many still uphold these norms, the present generation has to some extent adopted the principles of gender equality. Today, women participate actively in chariot-pulling events, often competing with men in both participation and performance.

Amid ongoing debates about women’s rights in places of worship across the country, Davangere district stands out for its unique tradition. This practice became a distinctive feature of the two-day festival, which was held on December 1 and 2 this year. Throughout the event, women pulled the chariot for over half a kilometre in the village. Women of all age groups spontaneously came together to pull the chariot for the occasion.

The tradition of women devotees pulling a 165 kg chariot started in 2005 at the annual fair organised by the seer at Halakere Annadaneshwar Mutt. During that time, the seer invited school girls and women farmers to participate in chariot-pulling, aiming to highlight the participation of both rural and urban women. Invitations were extended to women writers, achievers, and social activists to take part in the cultural programs associated with the fair.

Who Initiated this Practice?

Parameshwara Swami, originally from Karekatte village in Channagiri taluk, transitioned from a farmer to the pontiff of the mutt. Eight years ago, with the support of devotees, he founded both the mutt and its temple. The 48-year-old pontiff is married and has two children, who are currently pursuing higher education.