The Panchamaharathotsava was disrupted for an hour when the wheels of the main Gauthama Ratha got stuck in mud which was wet owing to last night’s rain.
Devotees spent anxious moments for a while as the wheels of ‘Dodda ratha’ got stuck midway during Srikanteshwara Jatra Mahotsava at Nanjangud on Friday. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner D Randeep launched the Gauthama Panchamaharathotsava during the auspicious Meena Lagna at 5.20 am on Friday.
The rathotsava was flagged off by pulling the ‘Ganapathy Ratha’ followed by Chandikeshwara Ratha, Srikanteshwara, Subramanya and Parvati Devi rathas amid chanting of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ by thousands of devotees.
When the chariot passed through Chennavara Katte Beedhi, the left wheel of Gauthama Ratha sank into the ground. The rope snapped and the chariot stopped after touching an electric pole.
As the chariot leaned towards one side, there was anxiety among devotees, who tried to close in towards the chariot. Police however, intervened and dispersed the crowd.
Town Municipal Council employees struggled for more than half an hour and pressed a crane and excavators into service to extricate the wheel and put the ratha on course.
Local people complained that the road had become narrow as shopkeepers had encroached upon the Bazar Road. The Parvati Devi ratha too got stuck at the same spot.
The main chariot’s return to the temple was likewise, delayed by an hour. Around 300 mts rope was used to pull the 90 feet tall chariot weighing 110 tonne. For the first time around 114 employees, who took part in the rathotsava, were insured by the Muzrai department.
Bypoll impact
As bypolls to Nanjangud Assembly constituency will be held on Sunday, heavy security was in place during the car festival. As the poll code of conduct is in force, officials were seen monitoring distribution of prasada. People were nonetheless, seen distributing buttermilk, panaka, pulav, curd rice, kesari bhath and laddu to devotees at many points. Some political leaders who are camping in the town for canvassing also got a darshan of the deity.
One electrocuted
Jagadish (42), a resident of Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district got electrocuted during the jatra mahotsava. Jagadish was replacing a bulb in the kitchen when he got electrocuted. Sources said that he had come to the temple town as part of the team of cooks called in to prepare food for the mass meals for devotees.