Banashankari Devi Fair

Banashankari Devi Fair is an amazing festival celebrated in Badami in Karnataka state of India. The fair is organized every year in the month of January on moon day that lasts for 10-12 days. The festival is visited by large number of people and is celebrated with great zeal and passion. People visit from all parts of the country to worship the Banashankari Devi (form of goddess parvati). The idol in the temple is portrays Goddess with eight arms sitting on the loin. The temple is built in a Dravidian style and is worshipped by whole weaver community. The temple is situated in the dense forest Tilakaaranya or Banashankri where Ban or Van means Forest.The main attraction in the festival is the Rathotsava. The streets and the surrounding around the fair are all brightly decorated with different colors and patterns. The fair showcase various stalls selling different agricultural implements, utensils and other articles of domestic use. Farmers can have great buy at this fair. The fair is related with the Banakshari temple and is visited by large number of people who preach the deity at the temple.The Banashankari Devi Fair is organized to celebrate the life of villagers. People visit to celebrate the day without any difference of the caste and category.