As the New Year approaches, each one is engrossed in planning to celebrate it in their own way and what better way to do this than to bring in the new year by burning the old man.
In Belagavi the Kamble Family from Khanapur Road Camp has been into making these old man effigies for the past 34 plus years.
Sashikala Kamble started this as another addition to the family income and now her family members who work elsewhere take out time for a week and make about 25-35 old man effigies from 2 feet to 15 feet.
Made of hay, bamboo and paper, the old man represents all the sorrows of the year gone by that are to be burned away before the new year begins.
Commonly referred to as Mr. Old Man the effigy burning symbolizes the burning of all the gloom the previous year contained. Originating in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the tradition dates back to 1924.
This year the old man is up for sale here starting from Rs.400 to 5000 and already half of the effigies have been booked. The painting work would begin soon and all the old man effigies would be delivered by 31 afternoon.
You can find them near the Petrol Pump on Khanapur Road Camp.
Burning old man seems to be unique to Belgaum, coz I haven’t witnessed such event in any other place.