The visible lack of devotees marked the annual Lakshadeepotsava organised at the famed Mahalakshmi temple at Goravanahalli in the taluk on Friday night.

It is learnt that the turnout of devotees was less due to lack of proper publicity, said to be the result of the negligence of the administrative officer.

Lakshadeepotsava, otherwise a grand festival of lighting oil lamps at the temple here, draws hundreds of devotees from across the state every year.

Some devotees said the turnout of devotees was less this time compared to the previous year.

They said a few devotees returned to their places upset as the facilities provided to them were few.

The deputy commissioner took over the temple three years ago following confusion in the temple trust's administration and told the trust to maintain status quo till the issue is solved. The assistant commissioner of Madhugiri has been appointed as the administrative officer of the temple.

The devotees charged that the number of religious rituals conducted the temple are decreasing from the past three years. Also, the trust has stopped its social programmes, they have alleged.

They said Lakshadeepotsava was a grand two-day festivity earlier. Homas and Rathotsava were part of the annual celebrations and a number of residents from the neighbouring villagers were taking part in the celebrations, they said adding that all that is missing this time.

The temple trust was felicitating the meritorious students on the occasion. Mass marriages were also held along with health camps. But these programmes are not being organised now, the villagers of Goravanahalli complained.