Drone Spectacle Steals Show At Hampi Utsava Inauguration

Hampi: The inauguration of Hampi Utsav 2026 came into limelight on Friday night with an intriguing drone display, drawing huge applause from the crowd. As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues took their seats at the dais, the lights dimmed and the sky became the scene of a blended spectacle of technology and culture.

Featuring popular Kannada songs like ‘Karnatakada Itihasadali’ and ‘Kannada Mannanu Maribeda’, the illuminated drones created a series of images that left the audience breathless and cheering. Spectators were seen holding up their mobile phones and trying to capture temporary patterns that appeared and disappeared in the night sky.

The show opened with the Emblem of the Vijayanagara Empire (a sword accompanied by Varaha (boar), Sun and Moon) followed by a sketch of Karnataka with images representing the five guarantee schemes of the State government. The crowd responded enthusiastically as familiar landmarks such as the towering Virupaksha Temple, the iconic Stone Chariot, and the majestic Ugra Narasimha came into view.

Images of Emperor Krishnadevaraya, two bears representing the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, and the sacred Badavilinga also illuminated the sky, blending history, nature, and faith into a single visual story of the region.

The drones then created portraits of political leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Tourism Minister HK Patil, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Vijayanagara district in-charge minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, MLA Gaviyappa and MP Thukaram.

People cheered when actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s smiling face appeared under the lights and the song ‘Bombe Helutaite’ from the movie Raajakumara played in the background; This left many in the audience visibly moved.

Puneeth’s wife Ashwini and eldest sister Shiva Rajkumar were also among those who took to the stage.