CM Shivakumar joins Hasanamba Jatra sports and flower fest
Synopsis
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar attended the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava 2026 in Hassan on 8 November, participating in a fruit-and-flower exhibition and sports fest, playing volleyball with athletes and watching a wrestling tournament.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar attended the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava 2026 in Hassan on 8 November 2026 .
He participated in the Hasanamba Kreeda Utsava , playing volleyball to encourage athletes.
He watched a traditional wrestling tournament held as part of the festival.
A fruit-and-flower exhibition was held at the Hassan City Municipal Corporation premises as part of the jatra.
District In-charge Minister K.M.
Shivalingegowda , MP Shreyas M.
Latha Kumari were present.
A Chief Minister stepping onto the volleyball court at a centuries-old temple festival is not standard protocol — it is a statement. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar attended the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava 2026 in Hassan on Sunday, 8 November 2026, participating in both a fruit-and-flower exhibition and the Hasanamba Kreeda Utsava held at the Hassan City Municipal Corporation premises, the Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on X.
Shivakumar serves up on the volleyball court
The Chief Minister did not simply preside over the festivities from a dais. He picked up a volleyball and played alongside athletes, a gesture the CMO described as an effort to 'huridu m bisi' — to energise and inspire competitors. He also watched a wrestling tournament, lending the traditional kusti competition the weight of the state's highest office.
Fruit, flowers, and the grandeur of the Hasanamba Jatra
The Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava is one of Karnataka's most anticipated annual religious and cultural events, dedicated to Goddess Hasanamba — a presiding deity whose temple in Hassan draws tens of thousands of pilgrims and visitors during the festival season. The event blends religious observance with community exhibitions and competitive sport, making it as much a civic celebration as a spiritual one. This year's fruit-and-flower exhibition at the municipal corporation grounds added a horticultural dimension to the festivities.
District dignitaries gathered in Hassan
Senior officials and elected representatives were present alongside the Chief Minister. Hassan District In-charge Minister K.M. Shivalingegowda, Member of Parliament Shreyas M. Patel, and District Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari were among the dignitaries in attendance, signalling broad administrative and political engagement with the festival.
Karnataka's political leadership has a long-standing tradition of attending district-level jatra festivals — these occasions serve simultaneously as cultural participation, constituency outreach, and a visible reaffirmation of the state's commitment to its local heritage. When a Chief Minister plays volleyball at a wrestling meet tied to a goddess's festival, he is writing himself into a ritual calendar that runs far deeper than any electoral cycle.
Point of View
But active sporting participation amplifies the optic beyond ceremonial attendance. With the Hasanamba temple drawing mass pilgrimage annually, Hassan becomes a high-visibility venue where state authority and popular devotion intersect. The presence of the district in-charge minister, an MP, and the district collector signals institutional alignment around the event.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava?
The Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava is an annual religious and cultural festival in Hassan, Karnataka, dedicated to Goddess Hasanamba. It combines temple rituals with community exhibitions, traditional sports, and cultural programmes.
Why did CM Shivakumar visit Hassan on 8 November 2026?
CM D.K. Shivakumar visited Hassan to attend the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava 2026, participating in a fruit-and-flower exhibition and the Hasanamba Kreeda Utsava sports festival held at the municipal corporation grounds.
What sports events took place at the Hasanamba Kreeda Utsava?
The Hasanamba Kreeda Utsava featured volleyball and a traditional wrestling tournament. CM Shivakumar played volleyball with athletes and watched the wrestling competition.
Who else attended the Hasanamba Jatra with CM Shivakumar?
Hassan District In-charge Minister K.M. Shivalingegowda, Member of Parliament Shreyas M. Patel, and District Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari were among the dignitaries present alongside CM Shivakumar.
Where is the Hasanamba temple located?
The Hasanamba temple is located in Hassan, the district headquarters town in Karnataka, and is one of the state's most prominent pilgrimage sites, attracting large crowds during the annual jatra season.
