Chennamma Deve Gowda laid to rest today in Hassan; CMs, Union Ministers to attend
Synopsis
Chennamma Deve Gowda, who endured an acid attack meant for her son and lived with its consequences for 26 years, will be laid to rest Monday in Hassan with nearly 50,000 expected to attend. Her passing on 18 July 2026 following a cardiac arrest has drawn condolences from across India's political spectrum, reflecting the quiet but enduring influence she held over Karnataka's most prominent political family.
Key Takeaways
Chennamma Deve Gowda will be cremated on 20 July 2026 at the foothills of the Bettada Ranganathaswamy Temple near Haradanahalli, Hassan district .
Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi , and Chief Minister D.K.
Shivakumar are among the dignitaries attending.
Last rites are scheduled from 2 pm to 4 pm per Vokkaliga community traditions; arrangements made for nearly 50,000 mourners.
She passed away from a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru on 18 July 2026 , two days after being admitted with breathing complications.
Revanna revealed she had suffered injuries from an acid attack originally meant for him, living with the aftermath for 26 years .
Chennamma Deve Gowda, wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, will be laid to rest on Monday, 20 July 2026, with full traditional rites at the foothills of the Bettada Ranganathaswamy Temple near Haradanahalli in Hassan district, Karnataka. The funeral is expected to draw close to 50,000 mourners, with Union Ministers and the Chief Minister of Karnataka among the dignitaries attending.
Who Is Attending the Funeral
Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi, along with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and several prominent state leaders, are expected to be present for the last rites. Their attendance was confirmed by the office of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders have already conveyed their condolences following her passing.
The Funeral Procession and Final Rites
Her mortal remains, which arrived at the residence of H.D. Revanna in Holenarasipura town, drew thousands of mourners — political leaders, party workers, and members of the public — who gathered to pay their final respects. The funeral procession will travel from Holenarasipura to the Lakshminarasimha Temple area, where Deve Gowda once lived in a rented house for ₹10 a month. Sacred water from the temple will be sprinkled on her mortal remains before the procession returns to Holenarasipura by 12.30 pm. The last rites are scheduled to commence at 2 pm and conclude by 4 pm, in keeping with Vokkaliga community traditions.
Revanna Recalls Her Life of Service
Addressing reporters, former minister and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA H.D. Revanna paid an emotional tribute to his mother, recalling her decades of quiet service. 'She made sure everyone who came to our house had food. She also gifted sarees to women visitors. We have lost a goddess,' Revanna said, visibly overcome with grief. He added that Chennamma never spoke ill of anyone and spent much of her later years at his sister's residence.
Revanna also recalled a harrowing chapter from the family's history — an acid attack that had originally been intended for him and his wife, Bhavani, but which Chennamma suffered instead. She lived with the consequences of that attack for 26 years.
How She Passed Away
Chennamma Deve Gowda passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday, 18 July 2026. She had been admitted to the hospital on the night of Wednesday, 16 July, with breathing complications, chest congestion, and other age-related ailments. Her death marks the end of a life defined by resilience, hospitality, and decades spent at the centre of one of Karnataka's most prominent political families.
As Karnataka prepares to bid farewell to a figure who shaped the Deve Gowda household through its most turbulent decades, the state's political landscape — cutting across party lines — has paused to mourn her passing.
Point of View
BJP Union Ministers, and JD(S) together — underscores how figures who operate outside formal politics can command broader reverence than those within it. Revanna's disclosure about the acid attack is a reminder that Karnataka's political violence has long had collateral victims who never made headlines. Her story deserved more attention in life than it is receiving in death.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will Chennamma Deve Gowda be laid to rest?
Chennamma Deve Gowda will be laid to rest on Monday, 20 July 2026, at the foothills of the Bettada Ranganathaswamy Temple near Haradanahalli in Hassan district, Karnataka. The last rites are scheduled from 2 pm to 4 pm in accordance with Vokkaliga community traditions.
How did Chennamma Deve Gowda pass away?
She passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday, 18 July 2026. She had been admitted on the night of 16 July with breathing complications, chest congestion, and other age-related ailments.
Which leaders are attending the funeral?
Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi, and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are among the prominent leaders attending. Their presence was confirmed by the office of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has separately expressed his condolences.
What did H.D. Revanna say about his mother?
H.D. Revanna described Chennamma as someone who ensured every visitor to the Deve Gowda household was fed and gifted sarees to women guests. He also revealed that an acid attack originally intended for him and his wife Bhavani had instead injured Chennamma, and she lived with the consequences for 26 years.
What is the significance of the Lakshminarasimha Temple in the funeral procession?
The Lakshminarasimha Temple area in Holenarasipura holds personal significance for the Deve Gowda family — it is where H.D. Deve Gowda once lived in a rented house for ₹10 a month. Sacred water from the temple will be sprinkled on Chennamma's mortal remains as part of the funeral procession before it returns to Holenarasipura for the final rites.
