<p class="bodytext">The Maharathotsava, held as part of Deepavali festival, was celebrated in a grand manner at Male Mahadeshwara Hill, in the district, on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Thousands of people thronged the temple to take part in the annual rathotsava. The Car festival, which was celebrated under the guidance of Saluru Mutt seer Guruswamy, commenced at 8 am and concluded at 9.45 am.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The three-day jatra mahotsava, celebrated during Deepavali festival, began on Tuesday and concluded with the Teppotsava on Thursday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Around three lakh devotees from across the state and also from the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu visited the temple and paid obeisance during the three-day festival. Special pujas and rituals were conducted before the Car festival. As per the customs, followed since decades, 108 girls, belonging to Bedagampana community, who were on a ‘vratha’, performed special arathi during the wee hours of Thursday, marking the beginning of the festival. Later, the procession deity (utsava murthy) of Mahadeshwara was taken out in a procession inside the temple premises. Salur mutt seer performed special pujas to the deity before it was installed on the huge Rath, which was taken out in a procession. Folk troupes accompanied the procession, performing Goravara kunitha, Veeragase, Tamate nritya, etc, adding glitter to the festival.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Male Mahadeshwara Development Authority had organised mass feeding for all devotees visiting the temple. Besides, facilities like drinking water, toilet and pandals for shade were provided for the devotees.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had provided additional bus services from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and other places to the temple town.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The district administration had set up mobile health centres on the premises in case of medical emergencies.</p>.<p class="byline">DH News Service</p>
<p class="bodytext">The Maharathotsava, held as part of Deepavali festival, was celebrated in a grand manner at Male Mahadeshwara Hill, in the district, on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Thousands of people thronged the temple to take part in the annual rathotsava. The Car festival, which was celebrated under the guidance of Saluru Mutt seer Guruswamy, commenced at 8 am and concluded at 9.45 am.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The three-day jatra mahotsava, celebrated during Deepavali festival, began on Tuesday and concluded with the Teppotsava on Thursday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Around three lakh devotees from across the state and also from the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu visited the temple and paid obeisance during the three-day festival. Special pujas and rituals were conducted before the Car festival. As per the customs, followed since decades, 108 girls, belonging to Bedagampana community, who were on a ‘vratha’, performed special arathi during the wee hours of Thursday, marking the beginning of the festival. Later, the procession deity (utsava murthy) of Mahadeshwara was taken out in a procession inside the temple premises. Salur mutt seer performed special pujas to the deity before it was installed on the huge Rath, which was taken out in a procession. Folk troupes accompanied the procession, performing Goravara kunitha, Veeragase, Tamate nritya, etc, adding glitter to the festival.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Male Mahadeshwara Development Authority had organised mass feeding for all devotees visiting the temple. Besides, facilities like drinking water, toilet and pandals for shade were provided for the devotees.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had provided additional bus services from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and other places to the temple town.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The district administration had set up mobile health centres on the premises in case of medical emergencies.</p>.<p class="byline">DH News Service</p>