District administration cancels annual Chamarajeshwara Rathotsava

Inability to build new chariot in short span forces decision

For the first time in 179 years, the annual Chamarajeshwara Swami Rathotsava has been cancelled. Citing the administration’s inability to build a new chariot within a short span of time and also the pending renovation works of the temple, Deputy Commissioner B Ramu took the decision at a meeting here to Tuesday.

The rathotsava is celebrated in a grand manner every year during the month of Ashada. The festival was supposed to be held on July 9 this year. As a miscreant set the chariot on fire a few months ago (February 19), a portion of it got damaged.

The officials in the meeting took a decision to cancel the festival as the participants were against the idea of repairing the old chariot and taking it out in a procession. “As it is not possible to build a new chariot within two months and as renovation works of the temple are underway, it was decided to cancel the rathotsava this year and conduct it in a grand manner next year with a new chariot,” said the officials.

However, a few people’s representatives expressed disappointment over cancelling the festival. The temple has a history of 191 years and rathotsava is being held since 179 years and had not been cancelled so far. Cancelling the festival is not good for the city. As the chariot is damaged, an alternative chariot should be arranged for the purpose, they opined. Some others expressed that as the renovation of ‘Rajagopura’ was in progress, as per tradition the deity should not be taken out in a procession.

MLA C Puttarangashetty, additional DC Gayathri, priest Nagaraja Dixit, Tahsildar Purandara and others attended the meeting.

The district administration decided to seek financial help from philanthropists for building a new chariot as it would cost around Rs 1.17 crore. The temple is being renovated at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore.