Hebri is a small town enroute from Udupi to Agumbe.

Hebri is a small town enroute from Udupi to Agumbe. Hebri is at foot of Western Ghats of India in Karnataka state. It is a junction of roads leading to Brahmavar, Karkala, Shimoga and Udupi. The place is scenic and splendid with evergreen forests. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is located nearby.This sanctuary houses some of the endangered species like the Lion-Tailed Macaque.

Its local language happens to be Tulu, though Kannada also is prominently spoken. The local deity (also known as the Grama Devaru in kannada ) is “Ananthpadmanabha”.

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Sri Anantha Padmanabha Temple, Hebri

Hebri in Karkala taluk is a prominent business centre of Udupi district. Situated just beneath the picturesque Agumbe Ghats, Hebri, enriched by the flow of river Seethanadi, has a number of agro-based industries such as cashew processing, rice mills, oil mills, cattle feed manufacturing and others. It also has a calm atmosphere, surrounded by green paddy fields, arecanut, coconut and cashew plantations and thick, green forests.

The name ‘Hebri’ has been arrived from a word- Hebberi. The village had an enormous ‘Bheri’ (Drum), an instrument producing huge noise, which was used to caution people during calamities. This Bheri (Hebberi) brought a beautiful name for a colourful town.

Lord Anantha Padmanabha is the presiding deity of the Temple, situated on the main road. The Temple premise also accommodates the shrines of Kshethrapala, Khadga Ravana and Dhoomavathi. The idol, a beautiful black granite sculpture in standing posture, is three feet in height. Famous historian late Dr Gururaj Bhat, who had studied the sculpture of the deity, was of the opinion that the deity should have to be recognised as Lord Srinivasa. But available lithographs, which also point at the generous donations of some kings to this Temple, have mentioned the deity as Sri Anantha Devaru or Sri Anantha Padmanabha. Three different idols were installed simultaneously in three Temples at Hebri, Perdur and Iruvathur.

A Brahmin family was brought here in the 18th century for worshipping Lord Anantha Padmanabha. Beedina Ballala family of Hebri is looking after the management of the Temple on hereditary basis.

It is said that in the beginning of the 20th century, almost half of the Hebri Town was reduced to ashes in a fire accident. The Temple Car (Ratha) also became a victim of the fire. Later devotees offered a new Car for their Lord. Annual festival- Gounothsava- is held for five days starting from Kumbha Sankramana.

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Boost for adventure sports near Hebri

Staff Correspondent

 

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30 tourists can be accommodated at Sitanadi Nisarga Dhama Department promoting trekking activities Parasailing may be introduced at Kundadri Hills near Agumbe   UDUPI: Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Range Officer M.B. Angady said on Monday that the Department of Forests is promoting adventure sports activities in the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Mr. Angady told presspersons at Hebri in Udupi district that at present the Sitanadi Nisarga Dhama (Sitanadi Nature Camp) near Hebri can accommodate 30 tourists. The department will build more log-huts to meet the inflow of tourists and adventure sport lovers. A library will be built for tourists at the nature camp. The department is promoting trekking activities in the sanctuary with the help of the Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a Government of Karnataka undertaking. Since the tiger census will be taken up at the sanctuary from December 7 to 27 as part of a countrywide initiative, tourists will not be permitted into the sanctuary during this period, Mr. Angady said. Adreno Adventure Sports Managing Director M.R. Manjunath, who was present at the press meet, said Adreno is conducting a survey at the Kundadri Hills near Agumbe in Shimoga district to promote parasailing. If the survey report is positive, parasailing will be taken up there. Adreno is conducting parasailing activities at Kodachandri Hills near Kollur in Udupi district. He said the Jungle Lodges and Resorts is promoting white water river rafting at Sita River from June to October at Varahi River from October to June and at Anejari Nature Camp throughout the year. River kayaking is promoted at Varahi and Anejari. Mountaineering and trekking activities are being promoted in the Someshwara and Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuaries.

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Nearby Cities and Towns to HEBRI
West	North	East	South
	Golikatte (10.5 nm)	Someshwar (5.3 nm)	Perduru (7.0 nm)Karkal (16.0 nm)

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Temple fair and religious fervour

Temple fair and religious fervour

The annual Badami-Banashankari Jaatre sheds light on the culture of the people of Bagalkot district, writes Shrinivas Nargund.

Bagalkot district boasts of many places of cultural and historical importance and has contributed a lot to the fields of art and culture. Many cultural events and jaatra mahotsavas are held here at regular intervals.The Badami-Banashankari Jaatre (fair) is one of the most important religious and cultural fests held here. Badami, the capital city of Chalukyas, is 35 km from Bagalkot and is not only known for its cave temples (Mena Basadi) and other historic monuments but also for the Banashankari Devi Temple, which is at a distance of about 5 km from Badami. The attractive statue of Goddess Banashankari in the temple, sitting on a lion, also known as Shakti Devi, Shakhambari and Banadevi, is revered by people from all over. The Banashankari Devi Jaatre, which throws light on the cultural aspects of the people of this region, is celebrated once a year for three weeks with pomp and grandeur. The car festival or the rathotsava of Goddess Banashankari Devi is held on Banada Hunnime every year and thousands of people, irrespective of their caste and creed from across the State and surrounding villages come in colourful carts to witness this cultural and religious event. The actual religious programmes that mark the fair begin from Bandasthami. Palleda Habba or the Vegetable Utsava is a unique part of the fair when many vegetables are offered to the Devi as naivedya. Another attraction of this fair is Teppotsava when parents blessed with children by the grace of the Goddess take their new borns on a teppa (small cradle made up of banana stems) around the pond (honda) in front of the Banashankari temple which is almost dry now. Women vendors from nearby villages selling rotti and mosaru (roti and curds), accompanied by badanekai palle (brinjal bhaji), kaal bhaji, etc. are almost always near the temple. The tonga ride from Badami to Banashankari temple is enjoyable with greenery and strange rocks on either sides of the road. Hundreds of monkeys, popularly known as ‘Badami Mangya’, have a good time snatching eatables from tourists! Hundreds of stalls selling domestic articles, agricultural equipments and big wooden door frames are a major attraction at the fair, as also the many drama and cinema tents that offer entertainment to the people. Cattle fair also forms a part of the three-day festival. The then Mysore Government had conducted a folk songs competition to encourage people in the field of arts and noted art troupes led by Yenagi Balappa, Kandagal Hanumantraya and Gangadhar Shastri had come here to present dramas, recall elders of the place. They also add that noted artistes like Dr Rajkumar, G V Aiyar, Balakrishna, Narasimha Raju and Pandharibai had performed dramas in the late 60s. Various government departments too conduct awareness programmes of their respective fields during the jaatra mahotasava.