Kalaseshwara Sami Jatra Mahotsava,Kalasa

Kalasa is a picturesque town in the Chikmagalur District of Karnataka. The town is blessed with nature and is also enveloped in an aura of spirituality. Kalasa is located very close to Hornadu which is famous for its ancient Annaporneshwari temple, believed to have been built by the revered sage Agasthya. Kalasa has many sacred temples and water bodies that add to its serenity. There is a Shiva temple dating back to the 12th century in which Shiva is worshipped as Kalaseshwara. There is also a temple called Girijamba Temple in which Parvati is worshipped as Girijamba. Kalasa is associated with the sacred marriage of Shiva and Parvati. According to legend, the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati took place in the Himalayas and was attended by all the celestial beings including Gods and Goddesses. The presence of so many divine beings upset the balance of the earth and it started tilting towards the north. To maintain the equilibrium of the earth, Lord Shiva requested Sage Agastya to move southwards. The sage expressed his desire to witness the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva then granted him a divine vision, with which he would be able to see the wedding from wherever he was. Sage Agastya then proceeded southwards and reached Kalasa, he stayed in Kalasa and watched the divine marriage of Lord Siva and Parvati from there. The marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated to this day at the Girijamba Temple and Kalaseshwara temple annually, as Girija Kalyana and this celebration lasts for 10 days. The Rathotsava or Car festival of the Kalaseshwara temple is another major festival celebrated as Kalasa Jathre or fair that lasts for seven days. These festivals draw tourists in hordes from across Karnataka and other parts of India.