Car festival held at Belur

Thousands of devotees from across the district and also neighbouring districts took part in the Brahma Rathothsava celebrations of Sri Channakeshavaswamy temple, here, on Saturday.

The two-day festival is also called ‘Galige Theru’ as it has to stick to the schedule. It was pulled by devotees during Mithuna lagna from 10.38 to 10.48 am from the south-eastern side of the road on the eastern side of the temple, towards the north-western direction.

Unlike in other car festivals, where the idols are placed inside the chariots, the idols are placed in swings tied with cloth.

The Utsava Murthy of Sri Channakeshavaswamy, along with the idols of Sridevi and Bhudevi, decorated with ornaments, was brought out through the Rajagopura. It was taken out in a procession in eight streets surrounding the temple, before offering pooja at Kesari Mantapa. The idols were then mounted on to the chariot, after making ‘pradakshinas’.

Secular tradition

The festival is also known for its secular traditions. The chariot moved only after Khazi Syed Basha Khadri of Doddameduru handed over its ropes to the Muzarai department officer.

Earlier, the Khazi recited a few verses from the Quran in front of the Navaranaga of the temple and also before the decorated chariot. The chariot will be taken out in a few more streets of the town, on Sunday, the second day of the festival.