Devotees throng MM Hill for Deepavali rathotsava

The Maharathotsava, held as part of Deepavali festival, was celebrated in a grand manner at Male Mahadeshwara Hill, in the district, on Thursday.

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.

The three-day jatra mahotsava, celebrated during Deepavali festival, began on Tuesday and concluded with the Teppotsava on Thursday night.

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.

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.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had provided additional bus services from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and other places to the temple town.

The district administration had set up mobile health centres on the premises in case of medical emergencies.

DH News Service