The agricultural calendar deeply influences Vijayapura’s festival rhythm. Makar Sankranti in January marks the harvest of sugarcane and the preparation of traditional sweets like ellu-bella (sesame and jaggery mixture). Villages surrounding the city organize kite-flying competitions, with the sky becoming a canvas of colorful paper birds.
Sankranti celebrations include prayers for good crops, exchange of sweets with neighbors, and strengthening of community relationships. The festivals serve as reminders of the importance of community support in agricultural life.
Holi, the festival of colors, transforms Vijayapura’s streets into rainbow-hued celebration grounds. The traditional gulal (colored powder) mixed with locally-grown flowers creates a sensory explosion that brings strangers together in joyful chaos. Local preparation of natural colors using turmeric, indigo, and dried flowers has become an art form passed down through generations.