The Hasanamba Jatre is a unique annual temple festival celebrated in Hassan, Karnataka, centered around the 12th-century Hasanamba Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti. This historic temple holds a distinct tradition: its doors are opened to the public only once a year, usually for a period of about two weeks during the Hindu festival of Deepavali in October. During this short window, lakhs of devotees flock to the city for a glimpse (darshan) of the presiding deity, with the belief that offerings made before the closure, like a lamp and rice, miraculously remain untouched and fresh until the temple reopens the following year.
