If there are two things in life – make that 3 – that I can eat non-stop, its gotta be groundnuts (aka peanuts), corn-on-the-cob and its offshoot, popcorn. They don’t call me nutty for nutting, you know!

So when I read in the papers about the annual Kadalekai Parishe ( Groundnuts Festival) in Basavanagudi, boy, I knew I had to go – this was right up my street. Actually, it turned out to involve a commute from one end of town to the other but man, it was still worth it.

Reminiscent of a village fair but smack in the middle of one of Bangalore’s traditional bastions – Basavanagudi and its famous landmark – the Bull Temple, you’ll find people thronging this fair by the thousands. Its full of hustle, bustle, riotous colour, smells et al. and boy, your muscles need to be in fine shape to cover one end of the street to the other before you enter the temple premises, climb the steps and pay obeisance. Still, its good fun. I enjoyed it thoroughly even as my conscience decried the goofing off from work.

Entrance to the main temple

Even a couple from overseas were caught up with the festival. Here they are showing interest in trinkets!

Competition to the humble groundnut but not quite there – no takers!

The stars of the show – mounds and mounds of Kadelekai!

Free food from social service organisation(s) had people standing in line.

My eye also caught this beautiful building – the Ganjam Mantapa closeby

Lastly, I was all the more happy to come all the way because it gave me a chance to check out this eatery.

Here’s what I had – a simple, nutritious, power packed, ‘ mannina maga’ food that would have had Deve Gowda & his ilk smiling from ear to ear!

Had enough of static pictures. Here’s a video.

More information about the event here, here & here.

Cheers!