Video grab of collapse of decked top portion of the temple chariot (ratha) during Brahmarathotsava at Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple in Mulki in the early hours of Saturday.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Mangaluru: The top portion of a temple chariot (ratha) collapsed and fell during the Brahmarathotsava, which is a part of the annual festival at Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple in Mulki.
The incident took place between 1:40 am and 2 am on Saturday during the Brahmarathotsava.
At the time, the priests were seated in the chariot, and thousands of devotees were enthusiastically pulling the chariot from below. Suddenly, the rope used to control the chariot snapped, causing the top portion of the chariot to completely topple to the ground.
The incident caused panic among thousands of devotees gathered at the spot. Later, the deity's procession was continued using the Chandramandala chariot. The remaining rituals of the festival went on without any disruptions.
As the chariot tilted to one side, people quickly ran to the other, avoiding any danger. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.