Bedu Habba observed with festive fervour

A troupe of Lambani women, tapping their feet to the beats of drums, mesmerised people at Bedu Habba in Chembebellur village near Virajpet.

But, many were surprised ultimately to know that the dancers were not women, but, men, who were only fulfilling their vows, as a part of a religious ritual.

The villagers here believe that one’s demands will come to reality if one makes a pledge before the village deity of Chembebellur, Goddess Bhadrakali. When the demands are answered, the devotees disguise themselves in various forms and go on begging for alms from house to house, to fulfill the vow, no matter how rich the devotee is.

All people, irrespective of caste, creed and gender, participate in ‘Bedu Habba’, which literally means the begging festival.

Various people fulfilled their vows at Bodnamme on the commencement of the festival on Thursday. The Bedu Habba, which is celebrated on the third week of April has its own characteristics.

Bedu Habba was given a start by dressing up as God, on the night of April 21. The auspicious day for the celebration starts from April 14.

The people to were to fulfill their vows, clad themselves in various forms, visited the houses of the village to collect alms throughout Wednesday night and submitted the collected amount to the temple of Bhadrkali on Thursday afternoon.

After the auspicious timings are set for Beduva Habba, sacrifice of animals, cutting of trees etc are prohibited.

On Thursday, the pledge makers and other devotees removed green leaves from trees and presented them to the deity, before entering the temple. This time the devotees 'dressed' as Tiger, Pillu Bhootha, Bandkali, King, Queen, seer, skeleton and police.

The costume of Hullu Bhootha drew the attention of many. Men clad themselves in the attire of women while some others dressed up as doctors and went on begging for alms. Even children and old aged people were seen fulfilling their vows. All of them danced to the beats of drums and rejoiced.

Even the people who had shifted to other places for work and other reasons, too, came to the village to exclusively take part in the event. Temple Committee President Charimanda Banu Bopanna and other administrative Committee members were present.
DH News Service