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Chamarajeshwara Rathotsava celebrated after five yearsThis year, the popular festival saw massive participation from across the state
Gayathri V Raj
DHNS
Last Updated IST
The rathotsava was then stalled, and it took five years to build a new chariot—as people believe using a burnt chariot is inauspicious. Credit: Special Arrangement
The rathotsava was then stalled, and it took five years to build a new chariot—as people believe using a burnt chariot is inauspicious. Credit: Special Arrangement

The historical Sri Chamarajeshwara Swami Rathotsava was celebrated with religious fervour after a gap of five years, with thousands of people witnessing the grand event here on Wednesday.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, a member of the royal family of erstwhile Mysore state launched the grand Rathotsava—the grand chariot festival—which is held in the Hindu month of Ashada (which corresponds to June – July in Gregorian calendar).

The Rathotsava was last held in 2016. It was discontinued because the chariot was damaged in a fire in 2017 when a mentally unsound person set fire to the chariot’s wheel.

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The rathotsava was then stalled, and it took five years to build a new chariot—as people believe using a burnt chariot is inauspicious. The new chariot was built on a budget of Rs 1.2 crore—approved by the Congress government of Siddaramaiah in 2017—by a Bangalore-based artist.

This year, the popular festival saw massive participation from across the state.

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(Published 13 July 2022, 20:00 IST)