<p>Lakhs of devotees participated in the Maharatotsava conducted as part of Deepavali festival at Male Mahadeshwara Hill, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar district. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Apart from devotees from across Karnataka, the celebrations attracted huge crowds from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Along with the different rituals including Hulivahana, Basava Vahana, Rudrakshi Mantapa, folk and cultural troupes performed ‘veeragase’, ‘puja kunita’, ‘Mahadeshwara guddara kunita’ and others, marking the inauguration of the car festival celebrations at the hills. <br /><br />Following the pujas inside the temple, the procession deity was taken around the temple in the ratha. <br /><br />Despite the light rains, people were seen waiting in long queues till late night for darshan of Lord Mahadeshwara.<br /><br />Buses<br /><br />To prevent the menace of private buses during the celebrations, more than 200 KSRTC buses were deployed to ferry passengers from Kollegal to the hills since November 1 itself. Additional buses were also operating from Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Bangalore and Mandya to the hills to avoid inconvenience to devotees. <br />Mass feeding was held for the devotees till late night. Separate counters were also set up for distribution of laddus. <br /><br />Devotee robbed<br /><br />A devotee at the festival was robbed of her gold chain. Nagamma of Mandya lost her 49 gram gold mangalasutra during the Maharatotsava, on Monday. Police have registered the case. <br /></p>
<p>Lakhs of devotees participated in the Maharatotsava conducted as part of Deepavali festival at Male Mahadeshwara Hill, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar district. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Apart from devotees from across Karnataka, the celebrations attracted huge crowds from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Along with the different rituals including Hulivahana, Basava Vahana, Rudrakshi Mantapa, folk and cultural troupes performed ‘veeragase’, ‘puja kunita’, ‘Mahadeshwara guddara kunita’ and others, marking the inauguration of the car festival celebrations at the hills. <br /><br />Following the pujas inside the temple, the procession deity was taken around the temple in the ratha. <br /><br />Despite the light rains, people were seen waiting in long queues till late night for darshan of Lord Mahadeshwara.<br /><br />Buses<br /><br />To prevent the menace of private buses during the celebrations, more than 200 KSRTC buses were deployed to ferry passengers from Kollegal to the hills since November 1 itself. Additional buses were also operating from Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Bangalore and Mandya to the hills to avoid inconvenience to devotees. <br />Mass feeding was held for the devotees till late night. Separate counters were also set up for distribution of laddus. <br /><br />Devotee robbed<br /><br />A devotee at the festival was robbed of her gold chain. Nagamma of Mandya lost her 49 gram gold mangalasutra during the Maharatotsava, on Monday. Police have registered the case. <br /></p>
