Karnika Utsava is celebrated by Karnika goravas.
The goravas perform fasts for 12 days and climb a 12-metre bow during the Karnika Utsava festival.
Mylara Lingeshwara Temple is dedicated to the god Mylara, who is identified as a form of Lord Shiva by people across Karnataka. The temple is situated in the extreme south-western corner of Hoovina Hadagali taluk under Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. There are various rituals performed at the temple, especially during the Mylar Jatre (fair) including the Karnika Utsava and Pavada. While Karnika Utsava is all about bow-climbing and prophecies, Pavada includes rituals like body-piercing.
Karnika Utsava is celebrated by Karanika goravas. The term gorava refers to men and women belonging to the Kuruba community. The goravas perform fasts for 12 days and then, they climb a 12-metre bow. They also utter euphoric prophecies regarding regional agriculture, animal husbandry, and politics. As per the predictions made this year, the rain will be normal next year.
Tumbida koda mooru bhaga aadeethale parakh – this is one of their utterances which means: a full pot may get split into three parts. While some believe that Karnikotsava is like a puzzle, others consider it an indication of the political situation in the state. Sometimes, the predictions are made around rain and crops, indicating a threat to agriculture, thereby warning the farmers to be very careful. As per the belief, the utterances indicate the upcoming future.
Besides these traditions, another ritual is also performed which is performed with formation of a human chain. This miracle is performed at the famous temple of Mylara Lingeshwara deities of Chitradurga’s Hiriyur. This year, the human chain extended up to 15-feet in length. It was broken after the puja was concluded. A devotee named, Mylaralinga Swamy, broke the chain. He had gone to the Vijayadashami Ambinotsavam and stayed at the Terumaleswara Swamy Temple. In the morning, Manevu Puja was offered in the houses of the devotees on the main streets of the city. Then, in the evening, the human chain formation ritual was performed in the temple premises. This miracle sees predictions made around rain, crops, and other political events.