Plans to celebrate Kittur Utsav in grand manner, says Satish Jarkiholi - The HinduUpdated - September 15, 2026 09:26 pm IST - BelagaviMinister Satish Jarkiholi chairing a meeting to review preparations for the Kittur Utsav in Belagavi on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER“We have plans to celebrate the Utsav on a grand scale this year. The State government will release ₹5 crore towards the festival. The Public Works Department will spend another ₹5 crore for various infrastructure development works in Kittur,’’ Satish Jarkiholi, Minister for Public Works and Belagavi district in-charge, said in Belagavi on Tuesday. He was speaking at a meeting to review preparations for the Utsav, which is scheduled for October 23, 24, and 25.“We are trying to model it on the Mysore Dasara and make the necessary changes to the rules and regulations. One of the changes will be to invite celebrated writers or thinkers to inaugurate the festival. All these years, the district in-charge Minister would inaugurate it. But this time, we are planning to invite a writer or thinker to inaugurate it. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara will take a decision on that. The Chief Minister will participate in the valedictory,” he said.The program schedule would be designed to encourage greater public participation in the discussion sessions. Instructions have been issued to the Department of Education to organise events that are particularly beneficial for children, ensuring they are given ample time and focus. A greater emphasis would be placed on indigenous sports like wrestling during the festival.“Babasaheb Patil, Kittur MLA, has suggested that a cattle fair be held as part of the Utsav. It will be organised during this year’s festival. A krishi mela will also be organised to showcase technologies, tools and advanced farming practices to help farmers,’’ the Minister said.A ‘Vijaya Jyothi Yatra’ would be inaugurated in Bengaluru. It would reach Kittur on the first day of celebrations. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said a half-marathon from Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to Kittur Fort would be organised.Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, NWKRTC Vice-Chairman Sunil Hannamannavar, Santosh Hangal, Commissioner, Kittur Development Authority, and other officials were present on the occasion.Published - September 15, 2026 09:25 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }