Vaikunta Ekadashi was celebrated with lot of festivity in the presence of hundreds of devotees at Venkateshwaraswamy temple in Madhugiri on Thursday.

The rituals which are part of the celebration started at 3am. The procession deity was taken out on procession as a part of the rituals and amidst chanting of prayers by the priests Vaikunta Dwar was opened for the public view.

There is strong belief among the people that a person can attain Moksha from the cycle of birth and death if one views the Vaikunta Dwar on this auspicious day.

The hundreds people who had come to visit temple formed serpentine queue outside the temple from as early as 5 am in the morning. The queue was visible as late as 10 pm in the night.

Tumkur Zilla Panchayat President Krishnamurty who had came along with his family paid obeisance to the god.

Various cultural programmes were organised on the occasion at the temple premises. They were held at the Rangamantapa erected in front of the temple for the purpose.