<p>There has been a drastic reduction in the number of devotees from Tamil Nadu visiting Talacauvery for the annual Cauvery teerthodbhava event this time around. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is seen as the main reason for the dip in the number of devotees from the neighbouring state.<br /><br />The holy event on the occasion of ‘Tula Sankramana’ used to draw more visitors from Tamil Nadu than from Kodagu every year.<br /><br /> In fact, there was a reduction in the number of devotees also from the districts of Mysore and Mandya, considered the hotbed of the Cauvery agitation.<br /><br />Another reason for the less than normal response is said to be the restriction by the temple committee on mass feeding by voluntary organisations during the event this year. <br />Devotees coming with these organisations had gone missing.<br /><br /> The Chettiyar family from Tamil Nadu, the Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga and other organisations were organising mass feeding programmes every year. <br /><br />A senior member of the Chettiyar family said that they had been feeding people on a large scale on the main street at Talacauvery during teerthodbhava each year as a mark of gratitude to River Cauvery, which waters their fields back in Tamil Nadu.<br /><br /> But, they could provide food to people only on a small scale this time in front of their choultry, he said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the teerthodbhava occurred in the ‘Brahmakudike’ at 5.55 am, with devotees shouting “Jai Jai Matha, Cauvery Matha.” <br /><br />The ‘Brahmakudike’, a little holy pond, was decorated with flowers and jewels. Cultural programmes had been organised since Tuesday night as part of the event.<br /><br /> Various rituals were organised on Wednesday. Later, the devotees took bath in the holy pond.<br />District in-charge minister M P Appachu Ranjan was present.</p>
<p>There has been a drastic reduction in the number of devotees from Tamil Nadu visiting Talacauvery for the annual Cauvery teerthodbhava event this time around. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is seen as the main reason for the dip in the number of devotees from the neighbouring state.<br /><br />The holy event on the occasion of ‘Tula Sankramana’ used to draw more visitors from Tamil Nadu than from Kodagu every year.<br /><br /> In fact, there was a reduction in the number of devotees also from the districts of Mysore and Mandya, considered the hotbed of the Cauvery agitation.<br /><br />Another reason for the less than normal response is said to be the restriction by the temple committee on mass feeding by voluntary organisations during the event this year. <br />Devotees coming with these organisations had gone missing.<br /><br /> The Chettiyar family from Tamil Nadu, the Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga and other organisations were organising mass feeding programmes every year. <br /><br />A senior member of the Chettiyar family said that they had been feeding people on a large scale on the main street at Talacauvery during teerthodbhava each year as a mark of gratitude to River Cauvery, which waters their fields back in Tamil Nadu.<br /><br /> But, they could provide food to people only on a small scale this time in front of their choultry, he said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the teerthodbhava occurred in the ‘Brahmakudike’ at 5.55 am, with devotees shouting “Jai Jai Matha, Cauvery Matha.” <br /><br />The ‘Brahmakudike’, a little holy pond, was decorated with flowers and jewels. Cultural programmes had been organised since Tuesday night as part of the event.<br /><br /> Various rituals were organised on Wednesday. Later, the devotees took bath in the holy pond.<br />District in-charge minister M P Appachu Ranjan was present.</p>