Sandeep, a resident of Kannur village in Sorab taluk, was beaming as he hauled roughly 10 kilograms of freshly caught fish from the Chittur tank — his reward from ‘Kere Bete’, the summer fishing sport, organised in Shivamogga and neighbouring districts in Karnataka. Hundreds of participants from distant places descended on Chittur on May 7 for an event that felt less like a competition, and more like fun.
Kere Bete in Sorab taluk
Kere Bete, a traditional event of fishing in a tank, was held at Chittur in Sorab taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, on May 7, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu
Kere Bete in Sorab taluk
Kere Bete, a traditional event of fishing in a tank, was held at Chittur in Sorab taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, on May 7, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu
Hundreds of participants from distant places descended on Chittur on May 7 for the kere bete, which felt less like a competition, and more like fun.
Sandeep called it a day as he was happy with the day’s catch. Like him, several participants walked away with 10 kilos to 25 kilos of various fish varieties.
“This must be around 10 kilos, more than sufficient for a family of six people,” said Shivamurthy of Shigga village, gesturing at his bag with pride. “I have participated in many such events this season. More than the catch, the participation is what makes it worthwhile,” he stated.
Kere Bete in Sorab taluk
Kere Bete, a traditional event of fishing in a tank, was held at Chittur in Sorab taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, on May 7, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu
The residents of Chittur organised the sport for the first time in two decades, using the sprawling 118-acre tank — the second largest in Sorab taluk after Kubatur tank. Word spread well in advance, drawing participants from Sorab, Shikaripur, Sagar, and beyond, each arriving with their kuni — a traditional cone-shaped bamboo trap used to catch fish in shallow water. A few people used steel kunis as well.
Participants came with their kuni — a traditional cone-shaped bamboo trap used to catch fish in shallow water. A few people used steel kunis. | Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh
Kere Bete in Sorab taluk
Kere Bete, a traditional event of fishing in a tank, was held at Chittur in Sorab taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, on May 7, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu
Nalamurthy M.P., a resident of Chittur, said that the event had a long history in villages of the region. “During summer, when water levels drop, the villagers, who have cultivated fish in the tank, arrange the sport. This particular tank hadn’t seen a Kere Bete in almost 20 years. When neighbouring villages expressed interest, we knew it was time (to organise one),” he said. “The response has been overwhelming.”
Participants collected their entry tickets of ₹600 per kuni (or net), and assembled at a designated spot. At precisely 11.30 a.m., a whistle pierced the air — and hundreds of people surged toward the water in a spectacular, chaotic wave, kuni in hand. The organisers captured the breathtaking scene with drone cameras.
As participants pressed their kunis against the tank bed, fish trapped inside were swiftly tossed into bags. Within minutes, whispers ran through the crowd about who had landed a sizeable catch. Those lucky enough to pull out a big fish paused for a quick photograph, grinning from ear to ear, before wading back in.
The hunt went on for a couple of hours, with participants braving the blazing summer sun, until fatigue finally won. Some participants had already attended 20 to 25 Kere Bete events this season alone. For veterans like Mahesh of Ulavi village, the draw has nothing to do with luck. It is the ritual itself — the whistle, the rush, the water — that keeps bringing them back, season after season.