CM Siddaramaiah invited to Hassan's Hasanamba Devi festival
Synopsis
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah received a personal invitation at his Mysuru residence from Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda and Hassan MP Shreyas Patel to attend the annual Hasanamba Devi Utsava. District officials including the Collector and SP were also present.
Key Takeaways
CM Siddaramaiah was invited to the Hasanamba Devi Utsava at his Mysuru residence on October 24, 2026 .
The invitation was extended by Excise and Hassan in-charge Minister K.M.
Shivalinge Gowda and Hassan MP Shreyas Patel .
Siddaramaiah conveyed his blessings for the festival to be celebrated grandly and for devotees to receive the deity's grace.
Hassan District Collector Latha Kumari , SP Shubhanvitha , and Zilla Panchayat CEO Shubham Shukla were present at the meeting.
The Hasanamba temple opens only once a year for the annual Utsava, making it one of Karnataka's most significant regional pilgrimage events.
A visit to the Chief Minister's Mysuru residence turned into a warm cultural moment on Saturday, October 24, when senior Karnataka leaders extended a personal invitation to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to attend the celebrated Hasanamba Devi Utsava in Hassan.
The invitation from Hassan's minister and MP
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Karnataka's Excise Minister and the state government's in-charge minister for Hassan district, along with Shreyas Patel, the Member of Parliament from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, called on the Chief Minister at his Mysuru residence. The two leaders extended what Siddaramaiah described as a loving invitation — 'ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದರು' ['invited with affection'] — to attend the festival.
Siddaramaiah thanked both leaders for the gesture, conveying his wishes that the Hasanamba festival be celebrated in a grand and meaningful manner, and that the presiding deity bless all devotees who attend.
Hasanamba Devi Utsava: a rare and revered opening
The Hasanamba temple in Hassan is one of Karnataka's most distinctive pilgrimage sites. The temple opens its doors to devotees only once a year, during the annual Hasanamba Devi Utsava, drawing massive crowds from across the region who believe a visit during this brief window carries special spiritual significance. The festival is among the most closely watched religious events in the Hassan district calendar.
Karnataka governments across administrations have maintained visible engagement with regional temple festivals, and a Chief Minister's attendance — or even a public blessing — carries considerable symbolic weight for local communities.
District officials present at the meeting
The meeting at the Mysuru residence also included key district administration figures: Latha Kumari, the Hassan District Collector; Shubhanvitha, the Superintendent of Police; and Shubham Shukla, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat. Their presence alongside elected representatives signals that festival arrangements — including logistics and security — are already being actively coordinated at an official level.
With the district's top administrative and police leadership in the room, the meeting carried the weight of both a ceremonial invitation and a preparatory coordination exercise ahead of one of Hassan's biggest annual events.
Point of View
Engagement with temple festivals in districts like Hassan — where regional identity and faith run deep — is part of a broader effort to maintain grassroots visibility beyond urban constituencies. The presence of senior district administration officials alongside elected representatives also suggests the state is treating festival management as a governance priority, not merely a cultural formality. Whether Siddaramaiah ultimately attends will be watched as a signal of how actively the government courts Hassan's electorate ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hasanamba Devi Utsava?
The Hasanamba Devi Utsava is an annual festival at the Hasanamba temple in Hassan, Karnataka, during which the temple opens its doors to devotees for a limited period each year — drawing large pilgrimage crowds from across the region.
Why was CM Siddaramaiah invited to the Hasanamba festival?
Karnataka Excise Minister and Hassan in-charge minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, along with Hassan MP Shreyas Patel, personally visited Siddaramaiah at his Mysuru residence to extend a formal invitation for him to attend the Hasanamba Devi Utsava.
Who is K.M. Shivalinge Gowda?
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda is the Karnataka Excise Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet and also serves as the state government's in-charge minister for Hassan district.
Who is Shreyas Patel?
Shreyas Patel is the Member of Parliament representing the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.
Which officials were present when CM Siddaramaiah received the Hasanamba festival invitation?
Hassan District Collector Latha Kumari, Superintendent of Police Shubhanvitha, and Zilla Panchayat CEO Shubham Shukla were all present alongside the minister and MP during the meeting at the CM's Mysuru residence.
