Haveri
The chariot and raft festival of Sharif Shivayogi and Guru Govinda Bhatt of Shishuvinahala village, celebrated as symbols of communal harmony and known as the “Kabir of Karnataka,” was held with devotion and grandeur at Sharifagiri.
The week-long Om Namah Shivaya Shivanama Saptaha, which began in the Krishna Paksha of Shravan month, concluded on the last Monday with bhajans, jhanj mela, and a colorful float procession. Idols of Sharif and Guru Govinda Bhatt were first taken in a palanquin procession through the village streets before the raft festival began.
Devotees from Dharwad, Hubli, Bellary, Davangere, Gadag, Haveri, Belgaum, and even Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh participated, offering prayers, fruits, and devotional services. The raft, beautifully decorated with mango leaves and garlands, floated on a newly renovated lake, leaving devotees mesmerized.
The event was organized by the Sharifa Shivayogi and Guru Govinda Shivayogi Panchagnimath Trust. Food was distributed to devotees through the Dasoha Nidhi of Sharan Veerabhadrappa Shivarudranna. The festival saw participation from trust members, local leaders, writers, folk artists, and large gatherings of devotees, reinforcing the spirit of unity and devotion.
