Devotees engross in 'Om Namah Shivaya' chant on Mahashivaratri

Thousands of devotees thronged Shiva temples across the city to have darshan and to offer special pujas on Mahashivaratri on Tuesday. There was great demand for 'Bilvapatre', which is an integral part of Shivaratri festival.

As observing fast is important on the day, people consume fruits to beat the hunger pangs. Hence, fruit vendors did roaring business. Watermelons and muskmelons were in demand.

People were seen standing in long queues at Kameshwara-Kameshwari temple on Ramanuja Road and 101 Linga temple at Gurukula.

Chandramouleshwara temple at Matrumandali Circle, Suttur mutt's branch at foot of Chamundi Hill, Kuderumutt, and other mutts in the city observed Shivaratri in a grand manner. Ganapati Sachchidananda Swami of Avadootha Datta Peetha placed the spatika linga atop the gold-plated pedestal and performed special abhishekas and pujas.

The Shivalinga at Trinayaneshwara temple on the Palace premises was decorated with the golden mask weighing 11 kg. There was a heavy rush to have darshan of the golden mask, which is adorned once in a year during Shivaratri. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, a member of the erstwhile royal family, offered prayers in the morning.

Residents of Janata Nagar, Agrahara, and other localities had planned a trip to Male Mahadeshwara Hill, to have darshan of the deity on a special day. They had booked private buses to visit the shrine.

Male Mahadeshwara hill

There was a huge rush at Male Mahadeshwara Hill to have darshan of the deity as part of Mahashivaratri jatre. People from across the state visited the temple. The deity was anointed with oil (yenne majjana), on account of Shivaratri. They took a holy dip at Antharagange and had darshan.

The temple administration allowed direct darshan for the devotees who had taken out padayatra. Mass feeding was arranged to provide food for the devotees.