Dussehra festival was celebrated with joy and fervour in Belagavi on Tuesday (October 20, 2026). On Tuesday, the Simolanghana, a border-crossing ritual, was held at the Vidya Niketan grounds near St. Xavier’s School in  Belagavi cantonment. It attracted people from all walks of life. The faithful exchanged leaves of the Shami tree (Prosopis cineraria) and Aapti tree (Bauhinia racemosa), in a symbolic gesture of exchanging gold as a mark of good will. 

Family members of the Patils of the old city performed the pooja. They received various palanquins carrying revered deities such as Venkatramna, Maruti, Jotiba, and the Aapti tree. 

This Utsav is believed to have been initiated by K.T. Pujari and Sons in 1901. It involves a procession featuring five magnificent Devi chariots, all culminating in the same grounds. They include those of Marriamma Devi, Muthu Mariamma, Kunti Devi, and Mariama from Telugu colony, who are believed to be sisters. Folk artists performed songs and dances.  

The annual car festival or Rathotsava of Sri Venkat Ramana temple in Shahapur Vithaldev Galli was organised in the morning. This ritual is said to be 200 years old. Believers participated in Vaahanaotsav for  eight days preceding Dussehra. The vaahans of the lord, in the forms of Tiger, Hanuman, Eagle, Peacock, Elephant, bull, crane and Horse were taken out. These were held near the Shahapur temple that has been managed by the Naik family for more than 200 years. “Before independence, the temple used to receive grants from the Nizam of Bijapur,” the organisers said.